Zinc use efficiency is enhanced in wheat through nanofertilization

Ashwin Dapkekar,Paresh Deshpande,Jyutika M Rajwade,Manoj D Oak,Kishore M Paknikar

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-25247-5

Ashwin Dapkekar, Paresh Deshpande + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-25247-5

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Abstract

Ferti-fortification of wheat with zinc, an essential micronutrient is one of the strategies for combating ‘hidden hunger’ in a large proportion of people all over the world. During fertilization, application of large quantities of micronutrients often results in nutrient wastage and subsequent environmental pollution. Here, we report zinc complexed chitosan nanoparticles (Zn-CNP) for ferti-fortification of durum wheat in field-scale experiments. The efficacy of Zn-CNP was assessed vis-à-vis conventionally applied ZnSO4 (0.2%; 400 mgL−1 zinc) in two durum wheat genotypes (MACS 3125, an indigenous high yielding genotype and UC 1114, a genotype containing the Gpc-B1gene). The observed grain zinc enrichment using Zn-CNP nanocarrier (~36%) and conventional ZnSO4 (~50%) were comparable, despite 10 folds less zinc (40 mgL−1) used in the former. Nanofertilizer application increased grain zinc content without affecting grain yield, protein content, spikelets per spike, thousand kernel weight, etc. Grain zinc enrichment observed in the four-year field trials on plots with varying soil zinc content was consistent, proving the utility of Zn-CNP as a novel nanofertilizer which enhanced fertilizer use efficiency. Our work describes a new paradigm in micronutrient fortification, viz. ‘use nanofertilizers at the right place, right time and in right doses’.

Highlights

Zinc is a vital trace element, essential for human health
We developed Zn-complexed chitosan-TPP nanoparticles (Zn-CNP, containing ~40 mg/L zinc) and assessed its applicability for biofortification, in durum wheat
Considering the treatments, genotypes and the number of trials, a 3-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed which could give the contribution of the sources individually and due to their interactions to the observed variations in the grain characteristics

Summary

Introduction

Zinc is a vital trace element, essential for human health. Deficiency of Zn is a well-documented public health issue especially in the developing world[1,2,3,4], affecting approximately one-third of the population around the globe especially children and pregnant women. The soil micronutrient deficiency limits the productivity of crops and lowers grain nutritional quality[12,13,14,15]. The ever-declining global soil quality poses a formidable challenge to improving grain zinc content and is a high-priority research area[16,17]. To this end, several international programs have been initiated. Genotypes with high grain zinc content in future, agronomic biofortification would be necessary and relevant especially to their cultivation in zinc-poor soils. Agronomic and genetic biofortification could be the most effective complementary approach to obtain zinc- enriched wheat[9,11]. The study indicated involvement of Gpc-B1 locus and association of zinc with gamma gliadins in the grain endosperm[32]

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