Wheat-Aegilops chromosome addition lines showing high iron and zinc contents in grains

Abstract

Deficiencies of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) in afflict over three billion people worldwide, and deficiencies of these minerals in soil also limit crop production in one-third (Fe) and nearly half (Zn) of the world's total cereal growing area. Screening genetic resources for improving wheat grain Fe and Zn contents and efficiency can contribute to both human health and crop production. We evaluated 47 wheat-Aegilops disomic addition lines derived from 6 Aegilops species to identify the chromosomes carrying genes for high grain Fe and Zn concentrations. Addition lines with chromosomes 1Sl and 2Sl of Ae. longissima, 1SS and 2SS of Ae. searsii, 2U and 6U of Ae. umbellulata, B of Ae. caudata, 4Sv of Ae. peregrina, and 5 Mg of Ae. Geniculata showed increased grain Fe or Zn concentration of between 50% and 248% compared with the recipient cultivar, Chinese Spring. Most of alien chromosomes addition lines with significantly higher grain Fe and/or Zn concentrations belonged to the U and S genotypes and homoeologous groups 1 and 2 chromosomes. These lines could be used for the precise introgression of genes into elite wheat cultivars to improve wheat micronutrient concentrations.