REVIEW: Biofortification of Durum Wheat with Zinc and Iron
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ABSTRACT Micronutrient malnutrition affects over 2 billion people in the developing world. Iron (Fe) deficiency alone affects >47% of all preschool aged children globally, often leading to impaired physical growth, mental development, and learning capacity. Zinc (Zn) deficiency, like iron, is thought to affect billions of people, hampering growth and development, and destroying immune systems. In many micronutrient‐deficient regions, wheat is the dominant staple food making up >50% of the diet. Biofortification, or harnessing the powers of plant breeding to improve the nutritional quality of foods, is a new approach being used to improve the nutrient content of a variety of staple crops. Durum wheat in particular has been quite responsive to breeding for nutritional quality by making full use of the genetic diversity of Fe and Zn concentrations in wild and synthetic parents. Micronutrient concentration and genetic diversity has been well explored under the HarvestPlus biofortification research program, and very positive associations have been confirmed between grain concentrations of protein, Zn, and Fe. Yet some work remains to adequately explain genetic control and molecular mechanisms affecting the accumulation of Zn and Fe in grain. Further, evidence suggests that nitrogen (N) nutritional status of plants can have a positive impact on root uptake and the deposition of micronutrients in seed. Extensive research has been completed on the role of Zn fertilizers in increasing the Zn density of grain, suggesting that where fertilizers are available, making full use of Zn fertilizers can provide an immediate and effective option to increase grain Zn concentration, and productivity in particular, under soil conditions with severe Zn deficiency.Keywords:
Biofortification
Micronutrient deficiency
Plant Breeding
Staple food
Human nutrition
Grain Quality
Globally, micronutrient malnutrition alone affecting more than two billion people, mostly among resource-poor families in developing countries, with Zn, Fe, I and vitamin A deficiencies most prevalent. Approximately, five million children dies micronutrient malnutrition every year. Currently, micronutrient malnutrition is considered to be the most serious threat and global challenge to human kind and it is avoidable. Among different micronutrients, zinc and iron deficiency is a well-documented problem in food crops due to which crop yields and nutritional quality decreases. Generally, the regions in the world with Zn-deficient soils are also characterized by widespread Zn deficiency in humans. Current trend indicate that nearly half of world population suffers from Zn and Fe deficiency. Cereal crops mainly rice which play an important role in satisfying daily calorie intake in developing world, but they are inherently very low in Zn and Fe concentrations in grain. It provides 21% of energy and 15% of protein requirements but does not provide essential micronutrients i.e. Zn and Fe to eliminate their deficiencies. So, the enrichment of rice with N, Zn and Fe fertilization can solve the problem of Zn and Fe deficiencies, which are two amongst the most serious nutritional problems affecting human beings. Among the strategies being discussed as major solution to Zn and Fe deficiency with the use different modes of fertilizers, agronomic biofortification appears to be a most sustainable and cost-effective approach useful in improving Zn and Fe concentrations in grain. Scientific evidences show this is technically feasible without compromising agronomic productivity.
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Human nutrition
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Micronutrient malnutrition (e.g., zinc) is one of the major causes of human disease burden in the developing world. Zinc (Zn) deficiency is highly prevalent in the Pakistani population (22.1%), particularly in women and children (under 5 years) due to low dietary Zn intake. In Pakistan, wheat is the primary staple food and is poor in bioavailable Zn. However, the number of malnourished populations has decreased over the last decade due to multiplied public awareness, accelerated use of Zn fertilizers (particularly in wheat and rice), initiation of several national/international research initiatives focusing on Zn biofortification in staple crops and availability of supplements and Zn fortified meals merchandise, nonetheless a large number of people are facing Zn or other micronutrient deficiencies in the country. There are few reports highlighting the significant increase in daily dietary Zn uptake in population consuming biofortified wheat (Zincol-2016) flour; indicating the positive prospect of biofortification interventions up scaling in lowering the risk of dietary Zn deficiency in rural and marginalized communities. Zinc fertilizer strategy has not only helped in enhancing the grain Zn concentration, but it also helped in improving crop yield with high economic return. In addition, Zn biofortified seeds have exhibited strong inherent ability to withstand abiotic stresses and produce higher grain yield under diverse climatic conditions. However, there are many constraints (soil, environment, genetic diversity, antinutrients concentration, socioeconomic factors etc.) that hinder the success of biofortification interventions. This review highlights the status of Zn deficiency in Pakistan, the success of agronomic and genetic biofortification interventions. It also discusses the economics of agronomic biofortification and cost effectiveness of Zn fertilization in field conditions in Pakistan and the potential of Zn biofortified seeds against abiotic stresses. Furthermore, it also highlights the constraints which limit the sustainability of biofortification interventions.
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There is a very close association between humans’ beings and the enormous wealth of plants on this green planet. Amid the large floral diversity, numerous plants have been used for exclusive purposes, most notably the food. Though many staple crop plants and vegetables are rich sources of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats to meet hunger and require nourishment, they invariably lack some of the essential minerals and vitamins vital for the ideal growth of a human being. Globally, a large portion of the populace is facing ‘hidden hunger’ attributable to the deficit of certain minerals and vitamins in their routine diet because most of the staple food and fodder are deficient in any specific essential nutrients and vitamins. To meet this problem, people have used many approaches and developed new methods to improve staple crops. Biofortification is one such method which the researchers with great success extensively use. In this attempt, various tactics of biofortification have been reviewed. The review also conferred which biofortification was achieved in many staple food crops and their applicability and limitations at the global level.
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Malnutrition is of great public health significance in several parts of the world, especially the developing and underdeveloped countries. Micronutrient deficiencies in humans can be mitigated through the process biofortification. It is the strategy of increasing the nutrient content in the edible parts of staple food crops for better human nutrition. Staple crops such as maize, rice, and wheat provide most of the calories for low-income families around the globe. Biofortification includes the enhanced uptake of such minerals from soils, their transport to edible plant parts, and improving the bioavailability of these minerals to humans. In paper, crop biofortification and malnutrition of essential nutrient have been discussed.
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More than two billion people around the globe are suffering from malnutrition syndrome specially Zn deficiency. Women and
children in developing countries are affected the most and the main reason is reliance on cereal based food to meet daily energy
requirement. Wheat being the primary staple food in South Asia (Northern India and Pakistan) is important part of almost every
meal and in every house. More than 26% of the population living in region consuming wheat as staple food is diagnosed as Zn
deficient. Wheat, like other cereals (maize and rice) are inherently low in micronutrients, therefore, cereal-based foods do not
provide enough Zn to meet the individual’s daily Zn requirement. Agriculture strategies offer a practical and cost-effective
solution to the problem by increasing the Zn concentration in staple food like cereal crops through breeding (genetic
biofortification) or fertilization (agronomic biofortification) or combining both approaches. Agronomic biofortification
provides an instant solution to the problem by applying Zn fertilizer to the soil and/or to plant as a foliar spray. As an
international group, HarvestPlus program along with collaboration of public and private partners has taken initiatives to develop
the biofortified high Zn wheat cultivars along with desired agronomic traits. Current study aimed to evaluate the performance
of the high Zn biofortified wheat genotypes developed through long-term breeding activities under the HarvestPlus program in
Pakistan and India. Ten advanced breeding lines and two mega varieties as check were tested under four fertilizer treatments
i) Deficient Soil Zn (or control) ii) Foliar Zn application iii) Soil Zn application iv) both soil and foliar Zn. The results indicate
that biofortified lines have higher capacity to absorb and accumulate Zn in grain from soil and foliar Zn fertilizer as compared
to check cultivars. A positive correlation was observed in grain yield and grain Zn concentration of biofortified lines. As an
average of all biofortified genotypes, 18 % increase in yield and 3.5 folds increase in grain Zn concentration were recorded
with the application of both soil and foliar fertilizers. Highest grain yield and grain Zn concentration was observed in an Indian
biofortified genotype with both Soil + Foliar Zn application. In south Asian countries like India and Pakistan where soils are
calcareous and Zn deficient, the strategy of growing genetically biofortified wheat cultivars with an added application of Zn in
soil and foliar form is the best approach to improve yield and grain Zn accumulation. Under such a scenario, the targets for
biofortification will be rapidly achieved by combining agronomic and genetic strategies and hence to overcome the malnutrition
problem.
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Plant Breeding
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Biofortification
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Food fortification
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Nigeria is the world's largest producer of cassava (Manihot esculenta), and its production is important to the country's economy. Cassava's edible storage roots act as a critical staple food for over 180 million Nigerians. Micronutrient deficiency presents a major public health issue in Nigeria and correlates with cassava consumption level across six-agro-ecological zones within the country. Though high in caloric value, cassava roots are deficient in minerals, placing populations that rely on this crop at risk of hidden hunger. Micronutrient deficiencies, especially iron and zinc, affect an estimated 6 million children in Nigeria under five years of age. Supplementation, fortification and food-based diversification are being employed to tackle micronutrient deficiencies. However, in order to achieve wider impact and sustainability, biofortification of staple foods such as cassava is also being explored. Conventional breeding of cassava is unlikely to achieve elevated storage root mineral content at nutritionally significant levels due to lack of genetic diversity for these traits within the existing germplasm. Biofortification by genetic modification provides a potential solution to this challenge. Proof of concept has demonstrated that transgenic biofortification is a reality and can produce foodstuffs with increased mineral content that could beneficially impact the health of consumers in Nigeria and elsewhere. This review is targeted towards understanding the dynamics of micronutrient deficiency across Nigeria and addresses opportunities and challenges for deploying iron and zinc biofortified cassava.
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Micronutrient deficiency
Germ plasm
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Iron (Fe) is one of the most important micronutrients for organisms. Currently, Fe deficiency is a growing nutritional problem and is becoming a serious threat to human health worldwide. A method that could help alleviate this “hidden hunger” is increasing the bioavailable Fe concentrations in edible tissues of major food crops. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms of Fe accumulation in different crop tissues will help to develop crops with higher Fe nutritional values. Biofortification significantly increases the concentration of Fe in crops. This paper considers the important food crop of rice (Oryza sativa L.) as an example and highlights recent research advances on the molecular mechanisms of Fe uptake and allogeneic uptake in different tissues of rice. In addition, different approaches to the biofortification of Fe nutrition in rice and their outcomes are described and discussed. To address the problems that occur during the development and application of improving nutritional Fe in rice, technical strategies and long-term solutions are also proposed as a reference for the future improvement of staple food nutrition with micronutrients.
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Biofortification
Micronutrient deficiency
Nutraceutical
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