Abstract
It has been estimated that one-third of the world’s population lack sufficient Zn for adequate nutrition. This can be alleviated by increasing dietary Zn intakes through Zn biofortification of edible crops. Biofortification strategies include the application of Zn-fertilizers and the development of crop genotypes that acquire more Zn from the soil and accumulate it in edible portions. Zinc concentrations in roots, leaves, and stems can be increased through the application of Zn-fertilizers. Root Zn concentrations of up to 500–5000 mg kg−1 dry matter (DM), and leaf Zn concentrations of up to 100–700 mg kg−1 DM, can be achieved without loss of yield when Zn-fertilizers are applied to the soil. It is possible that greater Zn concentrations in non-woody shoot tissues can be achieved using foliar Zn-fertilizers. By contrast, Zn concentrations in fruits, seeds, and tubers are severely limited by low Zn mobility in the phloem and Zn concentrations higher than 30–100 mg kg−1 DM are rarely observed. However, genetically modified plants with improved abilities to translocate Zn in the phloem might be used to biofortify these phloem-fed tissues. In addition, genetically modified plants with increased tolerance to high tissue Zn concentrations could be used to increase Zn concentrations in all edible produce and, thereby, increase dietary Zn intakes.
Highlights
Zinc (Zn) is an essential element for human nutrition (White and Broadley, 2005; Graham et al, 2007)
It is believed that the formation of Zn-complexes and the translocation of Zn from the root to the shoot prevent the accumulation of toxic Zn concentrations in root tissues, thereby enabling plants that hyperaccumulate Zn to tolerate high Zn concentrations in the soil solution (Broadley et al, 2007; White, 2012b)
The accumulation of Zn in these tissues appears to be limited by Zn toxicity. In some crops, such as cereals and beans, root Zn concentrations of between 500 and 5000 mg kg−1 dry matter (DM) have been reported without loss of yield (Reichman, 2002)
Summary
Reviewed by: Javier Abadía, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Spain Ismail Cakmak, Sabanci University, Turkey. It has been estimated that one-third of the world’s population lack sufficient Zn for adequate nutrition. This can be alleviated by increasing dietary Zn intakes through Zn biofortification of edible crops. Biofortification strategies include the application of Zn-fertilizers and the development of crop genotypes that acquire more Zn from the soil and accumulate it in edible portions. Root Zn concentrations of up to 500–5000 mg kg−1 dry matter (DM), and leaf Zn concentrations of up to 100–700 mg kg−1 DM, can be achieved without loss of yield when Zn-fertilizers are applied to the soil. Genetically modified plants with increased tolerance to high tissue Zn concentrations could be used to increase Zn concentrations in all edible produce and, thereby, increase dietary Zn intakes
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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.
