Biofortification of wheat a strategy to alleviate micronutrient malnutrition

Zinc (Zn) deficiency arising from inadequate dietary intake is a world nutritional problem in human populations. A great and monotonous use of wheat-based products quickly results in Zn malnutrition since wheat is inherently low in Zn. Thus it is important to improve the nutritive value of cereals by increasing the levels of Zn and/or decreasing the content of anti-nutritional factors. Improvement of Zn content in wheat grain by bifortification (agronomic and genetic methods) is a proper approach for providing Zn requirements of the body and reducing the malnutrition. A field and greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of Zn application on the yield and quality of wheat in calcareous soils during the years 2013-14 in Maragheh University, Iran. The treatments were the three factors including (1) foliar application of Zn at the different growth stages, (2) Zn application methods, and (3) wheat genotypes. The results indicated that Zn application increased grain yield. Also the grain Zn and ascorbic acid (AsA) content consistently was enhanced, and phytic acid (PA) content and molar ration of PA to Zn were significantly reduced with the timing of the foliar Zn application, and were highest at early grain filling stage. Moreover, in Zn treatments, amino acids contents were increased that resulted in higher grain protein content in compare to Zn deficient condition. Bread wheat genotypes had higher quantitative and qualitative yield than durum wheats. Fertilizer strategy (e.g. agronomic biofortification) appears as short-term solution to alleviate malnutrition problem by improving the grain’s nutritional quality for humans.

Zinc, Biofortification, Phytic acid, Wheat, Amino acids