Abstract
Deficiency of iron and zinc causes micronutrient malnutrition or hidden hunger, which severely affects ~25% of global population. Genetic biofortification of maize has emerged as cost effective and sustainable approach in addressing malnourishment of iron and zinc deficiency. Therefore, understanding the genetic variation and stability of kernel micronutrients and grain yield of the maize inbreds is a prerequisite in breeding micronutrient-rich high yielding hybrids to alleviate micronutrient malnutrition. We report here, the genetic variability and stability of the kernel micronutrients concentration and grain yield in a set of 50 maize inbred panel selected from the national and the international centres that were raised at six different maize growing regions of India. Phenotyping of kernels using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) revealed considerable variability for kernel minerals concentration (iron: 18.88 to 47.65 mg kg–1; zinc: 5.41 to 30.85 mg kg–1; manganese: 3.30 to17.73 mg kg–1; copper: 0.53 to 5.48 mg kg–1) and grain yield (826.6 to 5413 kg ha–1). Significant positive correlation was observed between kernel iron and zinc within (r = 0.37 to r = 0.52, p < 0.05) and across locations (r = 0.44, p < 0.01). Variance components of the additive main effects and multiplicative interactions (AMMI) model showed significant genotype and genotype × environment interaction for kernel minerals concentration and grain yield. Most of the variation was contributed by genotype main effect for kernel iron (39.6%), manganese (41.34%) and copper (41.12%), and environment main effects for both kernel zinc (40.5%) and grain yield (37.0%). Genotype main effect plus genotype-by-environment interaction (GGE) biplot identified several mega environments for kernel minerals and grain yield. Comparison of stability parameters revealed AMMI stability value (ASV) as the better representative of the AMMI stability parameters. Dynamic stability parameter GGE distance (GGED) showed strong and positive correlation with both mean kernel concentrations and grain yield. Inbreds (CM-501, SKV-775, HUZM-185) identified from the present investigation will be useful in developing micronutrient-rich as well as stable maize hybrids without compromising grain yield.
Highlights
Micronutrient malnutrition or hidden hunger is a growing concern worldwide and identified among the top priority global problems
All kernel micronutrients and grain yield showed moderate to high level of repeatabilities within the environment
The extent of variation suggested that the genes responsible for kernel micronutrients accumulation were available within the maize germplasm and could be used for improving kernel minerals concentration through appropriate breeding strategies
Summary
Micronutrient malnutrition or hidden hunger is a growing concern worldwide and identified among the top priority global problems. Out of 17 micronutrients, iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) deficiencies are the most widespread in developing countries including India [1]. One in four people are affected by Fe deficiency anaemia (IDA) especially pregnant women and preschool-age children are at highest risk. Zn deficiency is widespread (25% of population) in the world and associated with incidence of diarrhoea, pneumonia and malaria among preschool children [2, 3]. The situation is more severe in Africa and South-East Asia, where about two thirds of preschool-age children and half of all women are affected by malnutrition [5]. Widespread occurrence of malnutrition in African and South-East Asian countries is mainly due to dependency of the population largely on cereal-based diets which possess lower concentration of mineral elements [6]
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