ABSTRACT: The present study examined the diversification and relationship among grain, flour and starch characteristics of thirty eight differently coloured corn accessions. The differences among accessions were more pronounced due to heterogeneity in genetic traits than color. Colour properties were positively related with phenolics and antioxidant activity. K, Ca, Zn, Mg, Na, Cu, Fe and Mn were the prominent minerals present in accessions. Accumulation of 10 polypeptides, ranging from 10 to 95 kDa was also evaluated. HPLC analysis showed the presence of gallic acid, Catechin, caeffic acid, chlorogenic acid, protocatechuic acid, p-coumaric acid, vanillic acid, quercetin, sinapic acid, ferulic acid, reservatrol and luteolin in flours. Accessions had higher proportions of amino acids, citrulline, arginine, GABA, phenylalanine, isoleucine, tyrosine, threonine, glycine. Starch granules with different particle size showed angular structure. Final viscosity, set back viscosity and crystallinity positively related to amylose content of starch. Starches with A-type crystalline pattern showed variability in thermal properties. The results of this study showed significant relationship between DPPH and total phenolic content, thermal properties, amylose content and crystallinity among various corn germplasm. These will be helpful for selection of appropriate accessions having required characteristics not only for food applications but also for non-food ones.
