Influence of genotype, maturity and lenght of storage on silage corn grain quality with high moisture

Author(s)

Juliana Fernandes

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2014-07-25

Examining board members

Luiz Gustavo Nussio; João Luiz Pratti Daniel; Clóves Cabreira Jobim

• Advisor: Luiz Gustavo Nussio

Abstract

The experiment evaluated the effects of silage maturity and genotype on starch-protein matrix and nutritive values of corn grain silage with high moisture. The experiment design was randomized blocks with 2 × 3 × 5 factorial: two genotypes (flint or dent), three maturity stages (whole plant silage stage, moisture grain stage and dry grain stage) and five lengths of storage (0, 7, 21, 60 and 120 days), with four replications. The treatments were composed by two corn hybrids - AG 1051 (dent) and IAC 8390 (flint). The data were subjected to analysis of variance and the averages were compared by Tukey test (5%). Corn grains physical characteristics along the maturity, physicochemical characteristics, chemical composition and fermentation characteristics of silages, extraction and quantitation of prolamin protein (zein) and dry matter and starch in situ silage degradability were evaluated. In corn grains, the concentration of prolamin protein was higher for hybrid flint (P < 0.01) and also increased with maturity, and the vitreousness had higher correlation with the concentration of these proteins. Furthermore in silages, prolamin proteins were similar to high moisture grain and dry grain reconstituted, along with storage, regardless of the hybrid. In silage, the ammonia nitrogen and soluble crude protein contents increased (P < 0.01) during the length of storage. Reconstituted dry grain silages had higher pH, higher concentrations of butyric acid, ethanol, acetone and 2,3 - butanediol. The highest ruminal starch degradability was negatively correlated (P < 0.01) with the prolamin protein concentration and positively (P < 0.01) related to soluble crude protein and ammonia nitrogen protein levels. The effect of genotype and maturity were overcome by 60 days length of storage, according to ruminal degradability of silages. Reconstituted dry grain silages had higher DM losses and the hygienic quality was lower compared with high moisture corn silages. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/15184-7 - PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND MATRIX PROTEIN ACTIVITY IN CORN GRAIN FOR SILAGE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF MATURITY AND ENDOSPERM TEXTURE
• Grantee: Juliana Fernandes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master