Triticum dicoccum Schubler wheat: A potential source for wheat bio-fortification program

Malnutrition is a major threat to the world, especially for zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe). Breeding of wheat with increased grain Zn and Fe levels is a cost-effective, sustainable solution to malnutrition issues. Modern wheat varieties have limited variation in grain Zn and Fe. Among the wheat species, T. dicoccum exhibits high micronutrient variability that can be conveniently explored to improve other cultivated wheat species. Hence, the magnitude of variability for grain nutrients was studied in dicoccum wheat germplasm accessions of the local collection in Peninsular India. Grain Zn concentration ranged from 35.2ppm to 54.0ppm, while Fe concentration ranged from 33.8ppm to 48.5ppm. Wide variability was also reported for protein content (14.8% to 16.9%) and sedimentation value (22.8ml to 41.3ml). Moderate phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation were observed for the number of grains per spike, thousand-grain weight, and yellow pigment. The heritability and genetic advance over mean were moderate to low for grain nutrients. In the tested material, there is a possibility to improve both Zn and Fe simultaneously as indicated by correlation values. Thus, the present study provides valuable genetic resources for grain quality parameters improvement which are associated with the quality of the end-products in Indian wheat.