Changes in the Phenolic Acid Content and Antioxidant Activity During Kernel Development of Corn (Zea mays L.) and Relationship with Mycotoxin Contamination

Corn grain production could be affected by several fungal pathogens responsible for the production of mycotoxins. The aims of this study were to determine the evolution of phenolic acids and total antioxidant activity (TAA) during kernel development and to evaluate their potential protective role in minimizing mycotoxin contamination in six corn genotypes (four open‐pollinated varieties and two hybrids) characterized by a wide array of kernel traits. TAA and free and cell wall‐bound phenolics showed significant differences among corn genotypes at different stages of development, with the highest values found at the beginning of kernel development. Ferulic, p‐coumaric, and caffeic acids were the main cell wall‐bound phenolic acids during kernel development, whereas chlorogenic acid was the main free phenolic acid. A significant negative correlation was observed between deoxynivalenol contamination at harvest maturity and free phenolic acids and TAA at the beginning of kernel development, whereas no significant correlation was observed with fumonisin contamination. In conclusion, free phenolic acids are evidently involved in the resistance mechanism toward deoxynivalenol contamination, whereas their role toward fumonisin contamination was not elucidated under field conditions, implying that components other than phenolic acids may be responsible for this latter type of resistance.