August 22, 2015

What is quality protein maize (QPM)?

Maize is a major food for millions of the poor in Africa and Latin America. The protein in normal maize is however, of poor nutritional value due to the limited concentrations of two essential amino acids, lysine and tryptophan.

During the last few decades scientists have developed and improved quality protein maize which looks and tastes like normal maize and yields as much or more.

Quality protein maize contains opaque-2, a single-gene mutations that alters the protein composition of the endosperm portion of the kernel and nearly doubles lysine and tryptophan concentrations.

The name ‘opaque-2’ was coined for the gene because it gave the kernels a chalky appearance.

The nutritive value of QPM protein approaches that of protein from milk. The biological value of common maize protein is equal to about 40% that of milk protein, whereas the biological value of QPM protein is about 90% that of milk proteins.

QPM can help reduce protein deficiencies, particularly in young children, in settings where maize dominates diets.
What is quality protein maize (QPM)?

at 2:38 AM
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