Abstract
Breeding rice varieties with a low phytic acid (LPA) content is an effective strategy to overcome micronutrient deficiency in a population which consume rice as a staple food. An LPA mutant, Pusa LPA Mutant 11 (PLM11), was identified from an ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS)-induced population of Nagina 22. The present study was carried out to map the loci governing the LPA trait in PLM11 using an F2:3 population derived from a cross between a high phytic acid rice variety, Pusa Basmati 6, with PLM11. The genotyping of the F2 population with 78 polymorphic SSR markers followed by the estimation of phytic acid content in the seeds harvested from 176 F2 plants helped in mapping a major QTL, qLPA8.1, explaining a 22.2% phenotypic variation on Chromosome 8. The QTL was delimited to a 1.96 cM region flanked by the markers RM25 and RM22832. Since there are no previous reports of a QTL/gene governing the LPA content in rice in this region, the QTL qLPA8.1 is a novel QTL. In silico analysis based on the annotated physical map of rice suggested the possible involvement of a locus, Os08g0274775, encoding for a protein similar to a phosphatidylinositol 3- and 4-kinase family member. This needs further validation and fine mapping. Since this QTL is currently specific to PLM11, the linked markers can be utilized for the development of rice varieties with reduced phytic acid (PA) content using PLM11 as the donor, thus enhancing the bioavailability of mineral micronutrients in humans.
Highlights
Micronutrient malnutrition is one of the most serious challenges to humanity, as two-thirds of the world’s population is at risk of deficiency in one or more essential mineral elements [1]
Pusa LPA Mutant 11 (PLM11) was identified based on the screening of 91 ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) induced mutants of the Aus cultivar, Nagina 22 (N22), through a colorimetric assay
The assay was based on the presence of high inorganic phosphorus (HIP) in grains as an indirect indicator of low phytic acid (LPA)
Summary
Micronutrient malnutrition is one of the most serious challenges to humanity, as two-thirds of the world’s population is at risk of deficiency in one or more essential mineral elements [1]. It is more rampant among populations in developing countries who are dependent on a rice-based diet for their caloric requirements. About 90% of the iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content in rice grain is localized in the aleurone layer Mineral elements such as Fe and Zn are essential micronutrients in human diet, deficiency of which causes micronutrient malnutrition, infamously known as hidden hunger. The removal of Plants 2020, 9, 1728; doi:10.3390/plants9121728 www.mdpi.com/journal/plants
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
