The Honourable Tim Mulherin
23/05/2010
Sweet corn - a long term vision for the future
Queensland scientists are contributing to reducing the incidence of age-related blindness by breeding a new type of super-yellow sweet corn.
Marking national Macular Degeneration Awareness Week 2010 (24-30 May), Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin said the new breed of corn could increase the longevity of our eye sight.
"Scientists at the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation have spent the last two years breeding super-yellow sweet corn with high levels of antioxidants," Mr Mulherin said.
"Zeaxanthin is one of the yellow pigments that gives sweet corn its distinctive colour and increasing the level gives the corn a deeper, golden colour.
"Over the past two years scientists have developed breeding lines that have eight to 10 times more zeaxanthin than normal sweet corn.
"This is double the boosted levels they had previously achieved in 2008 and is close to their project target.
"Eating food that contains more of this carotenoid, which is a naturally occurring pigment, gives our eyes greater protection against age-related eye disease."
The macula is at the centre of the retina and any degeneration results in a loss of central vision, which affects everyday activities such as reading, writing and driving.
"Given that macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in Australia, this is a very important project.
"Macular degeneration affects one in seven people over the age of 50 and is responsible for about half of all severe vision loss.
"The public health costs are enormous so anything that can slow the progression of age-related blindness is welcome news.
"There is no outright cure for macular degeneration, but this breakthrough in sweet corn breeding could help to slow this debilitating condition."
Project leader Dr Tim O'Hare said trials using z eaxanthin and a similar compound, lutein, could help reduce the onset of macular degeneration.
"Eating foods that contain more of this naturally occurring pigment gives our eyes greater protection against age-related eye disease," he said.
"A single cob of this corn would provide the same amount of zeaxanthin as that suggested for supplementary tablets, which is about two milligrams.
"Our next step is to produce a commercial hybrid, which we expect will be ready in 2012.
"If successful, there will be enormous export potential for the millions of sufferers overseas.
"It's not a magic bullet for an age-old health problem but it will be of great benefit to many future generations of Australians."
