In QPM cultivars tryptophan in endosperm protein has to be >0.6%, lysine would be >2.4%; these figures are double than that in normal maize (10% protein, around 72% starch,3-4 % oil; high oil lines have >6.0% oil.QPM hybrids essentially need have >0.6% tryptophan in protein and 10% protein.
Essential amino acid content of Normal maize
& Quality Protein Maize
We were working with QPM varieties in NZ some years ago and found that although lysine content was, as expected greater than for normal maize varieties, avaiable lysine content was much less than expected (sorry I cannot remember the actual numbers). Coupled with the the reduced yield of the QPM varieties (at least in NZ) the increased protein content of the QPM's did not make economic sense. The same arguments applied to high oil maize varieties. Maize is a great producer of carbohydrate and it seemed economically more sensible to get protein and oil from other sources.
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