Variability in Fe and Zn content among Indian wheat landraces for improved nutritional quality

Abstract

The short-term agricultural tools like agronomic bio-fortification of available nutrient resources are an emerging cost-effective strategy to address global malnutrition, especially in developing countries. This strategy involves supplying of micronutrients such as iron and zinc in the staple foods by using conventional plant breeding and biotechnology methods. The present study was to estimate iron and zinc in 180 Indian wheat landraces obtained from National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Delhi. Substantial variations among 180 lines existed for both iron and zinc contents. Iron concentration ranged from 32.7 g/g to 54.5 g/g and zinc concentration from 15.8 g/g to 66.3 g/g in wheat landraces. Iron and zinc concentration were positively correlated implying the chance for concurrent selection for both the micronutrients. Six potential landraces, namely, IC-82198, IC-532790, IC-534886, IC-532310, IC-82377 and IC-79062 having high amount of both Fe and Zn content have been identified. Micronutrient-rich genotypes identified in this study opens up the possibilities for the identification of genomic regions or QTLs responsible for mineral uptake and translocation that can be used as donor for developing nutrient enriched varieties.