High-throughput determination of oil content in corn kernels using nuclear magnetic resonance imaging

A new high-throughput method for measuring oil content in intact, single corn kernels is demonstrated using nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods. This nondestructive technique enables the evaluation of relative oil content in up to 2,592 corn kernels in less than 40 min using a 1.5 T clinical MRI scanner. Custom software was developed to process and analyze 3-D magnetic resonance (MR) image data rapidly. The precision and accuracy of the MR method for measuring oil content are discussed. The precision of the MRI results is shown to be dependent on MR scanner noise. The MRI results show very good relative accuracy compared with low-field NMR, NIR transmission, and accelerated solvent extraction measurements. Minor differences between the MRI and low-field NMR experimental protocols were shown to be inconsequential to the oil content measurement. Extending the MRI method to the analysis of other oilseeds and/or the use of other magnetic field strengths is discussed, as is a comparison of this MRI method relative to other high-throughput magnetic resonance screening techniques.