Biofortification for Selecting and Developing Crop Cultivars Denser in Iron and Zinc

Abstract

Deficiency in minerals especially iron and zinc is a global burden chiefly in developing countries due to poverty and lack of awareness. Among current interventions such as food dietary diversification, supplementation, and fortification available for incorporating micronutrients into diet, breeding-based biofortification is the most feasible and best alternative. It involves the exploitation of genetic diversity present in the mineral-dense germplasm, land races, and wild species to create micronutrient denser lines/variety. In present genomics era, molecular breeding approaches employing molecular markers are being extensively utilized for marker-assisted selection (MAS) to develop mineral-denser lines mainly for iron and zinc. Currently, the focus of plant science is on quantitative trait locus (QTL) detection followed by MAS for the development of mineral-dense crops predominantly wheat, rice, maize, and pearl millet through biofortification. Several QTLs have been mapped for micronutrient concentration in grain/leaf using various mapping population and different marker systems. However, the success of this strategy requires long time and trials as increasing the mineral can cause yield penalty. Thus, a combinatorial approach encompassing the identification and introgression of micronutrient-rich line into locally adapted variety, detection of allergenicity/toxicity, withstanding of nutrient during postharvest processing, and acceptance of new variety by farmers and consumers for a cost-effective intervention is required for the successful development of micronutrient-rich cultivars/lines. Biofortification strategies should be further enhanced with the support from governments for the popularization of varieties through extension workers to reach to the farmers and ultimately acceptance in market.