Non-targeted metabolomic profiling of maize landraces (Zea mays l.) combined with chemometric tools

Grain samples of maize landraces were collected and subjected to Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis combined with chemometric tools in other to discriminate them regarding the chemical composition. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering (HCA) were applied on selected peaks of the spectral data. The most important chemical groups found in all maize landrace samples were monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, tetraterpenes, aminoacids, polysaccharides, lipids and proteins. Trace signals of secondary metabolites were also found in cultivars according to year of harvest.The authors acknowledge CNPq (National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development) for financial support (Process n 407323/2013-9). The project was also partially funded by the Project PropMine, funded by the agreement between Portuguese FCT and Brazilian CNPq.