Show-Me State Times

University of Missouri researchers, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, are exploring the potential of Maiz Morado, a purple corn known for its high nutritional value. Assistant Professor Pavel Somavat and Sherry Flint-Garcia, a research geneticist at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service, are leading efforts to adapt various colored corn varieties to Missouri's growing conditions.

The team includes Miriam Nancy Salazar Vidal from the Division of Plant Sciences and Technology at the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; Assistant Professor Pavel Somavat; Sherry Flint-Garcia; and Ravinder Kumar, a doctoral student and research assistant. They aim to find safer alternatives to synthetic food colorants like Red Dye 40 by using extracts from non-yellow corn.

"We’re identifying the best varieties and providing feedback she uses to decide which varieties to breed for the next cycle," said Somavat. He holds joint appointments in Mizzou’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and the College of Engineering.

Maiz Morado is rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, and other beneficial chemicals. However, it currently struggles to thrive in Missouri's climate. Flint-Garcia has been working on cross-breeding Maiz Morado with yellow corn to develop temperate-adapted lines that can yield full-sized purple ears.

Missouri is already a significant corn producer in the U.S., but there are opportunities for expanding into new markets with these non-traditional varieties. "The potential of non-yellow corn goes far beyond food," Somavat stated. "With its unique health benefits and other applications, it offers a sustainable, high-value alternative for farmers and consumers alike."

The researchers have also discovered ways to use plant proteins and phytochemicals from purple corn biomass for products like antimicrobial biodegradable packaging films. Additionally, they are investigating natural pest deterrents derived from pigments found in colored corn.

Somavat's team published their findings on adaptation and pigment/phytochemical contents of Missouri-grown colored corn varieties in Industrial Crops and Products journal. Co-authors include Mizzou’s Ravinder Kumar, Joseph Agliata, Caixia Wan, Azlin Mustapha, Jiayue Cheng, Miriam Nancy Salazar-Vidal along with Flint-Garcia.