Chapter 15 - Progress and Prospects for Micronutrient Biofortification in Rice/Wheat

Abstract

With recent developments in phenotyping and genetics tools, biofortification programs around the world have significantly contributed to reducing malnourishment, particularly of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), in populations that depend upon on cereals as staple foods. As a polygenic trait, several quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for grain Zn or Fe levels have been mapped in the wild relatives of important crops, and these show a common genetic basis with some orthologous chromosomes in both rice and wheat, and with a few positively transgressed. Rice and wheat cultivars with target levels of grain Fe and Zn have been developed and released commercially. However, integration of agronomic biofortification with transgenic approaches and mapping for variation in density of Fe and Zn within endosperm for enhanced bioavailability and stability of traits in different environments are still in progress. Moreover, strategic advocacy for the awareness, demand, and acceptability of studies for scaling up the delivery of biofortified varieties is required to achieve additional health benefits globally.