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Updated: May 14, 2026

High-throughput, Microscale Protocol for the Analysis of Processing Parameters and Nutritional Qualities in Maize (Zea mays L.)
Published on: June 16, 2018
Genetic Variation and phytase1 Gene-Based Regulation of Grain Phytase Activity for Improving Nutritional Phosphorus
Botta Thandava Ganesh1, Firoz Hossain1, Ashvinkumar Katral1
1Division of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.
Background:
Developing crops with high phytase activity offers a sustainable solution to combat phosphorus and micronutrient deficiencies. Phytase enzyme hydrolyzes the "phytic acid" into inorganic "phosphorus" and releases micronutrients that are bound to phytic acid.
Objectives:
This study aimed to identify stable, high-phytase maize genotypes taking advantage of InDel/SNP markers of the phytase1 gene.
Methods:
To assess variability in phytase activity, 48 diverse maize inbreds were evaluated in 3 agroecologies during the rainy season of 2023. The phytase activity of each inbred was determined using the ammonium molybdate method. Phytase activity, grain yield, and other agronomic traits were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) at each location and also across locations.
Results:
The phytase activity ranged from 425.63 (PMI-PV3) to 1484.18 (LM14) U/kg of dry grain, with a mean of 957.61 U/kg across locations. Maize inbreds such as LM14, CML483, CML176, CML596, PMI-PV8, CML342, PMI-Q1, PMI-PV7, CML341, HKI193-1, and UMI1230 recorded higher kernel phytase activity (>1150 U/kg). Furthermore, biofortified maize showed phytase activity (939.89 U/kg) comparable to that of normal maize (1078.72 U/kg), whereas specialty maize exhibited significantly lower activity (832.07 U/kg). Combined ANOVA across locations indicated that genotypes differed significantly (P < 0.01), suggesting substantial variation in phytase activity (U/kg), which could be targeted through selection. Newly developed 8 InDel and 1 SNP markers, based on polymorphism of the phytase1 gene, were used to study molecular diversity among 48 genotypes. In addition, the effect of each marker (InDel/SNP) on phytase activity was identified and validated across genotypes. Deletions of 4 bp (phytase1_InDel1) and 16 bp (phytase1_InDel6) increased phytase activity by 1.16- and 1.02-fold, respectively. Another marker, phytase1_SNP4 in the coding region, enhanced phytase activity by 1.14-fold.
Conclusions:
Therefore, the InDel/SNP markers of the phytase1 gene-based markers facilitate introgression of the "high phytase" trait into elite maize cultivars.
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