Maize fiber is a byproduct of the maize wet-milling industry. About half of the fiber in a maize grain is found in the pericarp. The pericarp consists of 35% hemicellulose, 18% cellulose and 20% remaining starch. Recent research on maize fiber has shown that it can be used for extraction of maize fiber oil, which has been shown that has higher levels of phytosterol than the germ oil, and has also negligible amounts of ferulate phytosterol esters . The present study was undertaken to investigate the fiber content in a series of single cross hybrids of maize. Experiments were performed under natural conditions, without irrigation, in field research of ARDS Turda. The experimental model was a comparative polifactorial settlement with plots. Two of the comparative crops had 28 plots each and three of them had 21 plots. The plot consists of two rows of 5 m long each, with a distance of 70 cm between rows, 23.7 cm distance between plants in a row, 23 plants in a row, to obtain a density of 60.000  plants/hectare. The content of fiber to the testing isonuclear inbred lines of maize was studied in 2 years (2009-2010), in two experimental views: in terms of self-pollination and open pollination . Plants were harvested individually, and for the determinations of chemical compounds, two sets of samples were prepared: evidence from open-pollinated cobs and samples from self-pollinated cobs. Determinations were made ​​using the device INSTALAB 600, carrying out infrared analysis. Given the nature of soluble grain fiber, arising in particular from the pericarp, the differences between the two background of grain might be out of the conditions in which they were formed, and of the lower photosynthetic contribution of husk in the case of self-pollination (during the whole period from pollination to harvesting the maize cob was protected by a paper bag that was used for self-pollination).

maize, corn, fiber, isonuclear inbred lines, combining ability, open-pollination

Presentation: oral