Micronutrient Malnutrition Research Articles

Access to Nutrition Information, Dietary Diversity and Shortfall Food Groups among Nigerian In-School Adolescents

Background: Healthy dietary behaviour is essential for adolescents to promote psychosocial development and cognitive performance and prevent nutrition-related chronic diseases. Yet, the prevalence of micronutrient malnutrition remains high among Nigerian adolescents. Objective: To assess access to nutrition information, dietary diversity, and shortfall food groups among in-school adolescents in Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study involved 360 in-school adolescents selected using a multistage sampling technique. The data, which included sociodemographic characteristics, access to nutrition information and dietary intake, were obtained using a semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire. Dietary intake was assessed using a 24-hour recall approach to determining dietary diversity using Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)’s Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women procedure. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 15.5±2.3 years, and 58.1% were females. Only 5.4% had access to information on healthy eating. The minimum dietary diversity score during the previous 24 hours was 5.41±1.3, and only 46.5% of the respondents met the minimum dietary diversity for women. Shortfall food groups included nuts and seeds (4.1%), dairy foods (6.1%), pulses (7.2%), fruits (10.3%), other vegetables (10.3%), and eggs (15.3%). Conclusion: Poor access to nutrition information and low dietary diversity were observed among in-school adolescents in Mokola, Ibadan, Nigeria. Policymakers should strengthen the educational system to promote active learning of healthy eating and improve access to the varieties of foods and snacks made from the shortfall food groups.

Pediatric Nutritional Assessment

Background: Pediatric nutrition plays a vital role in the growth and development of children. It not only meets the daily nutritional needs of healthy children but also supports their normal growth. In contrast, for unhealthy children, it aims to prevent growth delays and developmental issues, especially in cognitive functions. The situation in Indonesia presents a unique challenge with the coexistence of undernutrition and overnutrition, both having significant short-term and long-term health impacts. Discussion: In the realm of pediatric nutrition, malnutrition manifests in various forms. Nutritional deficiencies such as wasting, stunting, and being underweight arise from inadequate dietary intake. Additionally, there are concerns about micronutrient malnutrition, which includes both deficiencies and excesses of vital nutrients. Overnutrition, leading to obesity and associated chronic diseases, is also a significant problem. The approach to pediatric nutritional care is multi-faceted, involving the assessment of nutritional status, determination of individual caloric needs, and selecting the appropriate method for nutrition delivery, whether it be oral, enteral, or parenteral. Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of these interventions is a critical ongoing process. An important aspect of preventive care includes educating parents about proper feeding techniques, such as establishing regular meal times and understanding the child's hunger and satiety signals, to avoid feeding difficulties. For cases like Failure to Thrive (FTT), where children do not meet standard growth metrics, careful management is necessary to ensure adequate nutrition and to prevent complications like refeeding syndrome. Conclusion: Effective pediatric nutrition requires a holistic and personalized approach. It is crucial in addressing the dual burden of undernutrition and overnutrition in Indonesia. By implementing proper nutritional care and structured feeding practices, children's health outcomes can be significantly improved, supporting their growth and developmental processes.

Effect of Primary Versus Revisional One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (OAGB) on Fatty Acid Profile

IntroductionOne anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) is one option of a revisional procedure for failed sleeve gastrectomy. Moreover, it can be used as a primary bariatric procedure, and is an effective surgery resulting in significant weight loss and the resolution or improvement of obesity-associated medical problems, accompanied by low perioperative complications. However, as with any therapy, OAGB has its limitations, including micronutrient deficiency or malnutrition. In our study, we compared the fatty acid (FA) profile in serum of patients after both primary OAGB (pOAGB) and revisional OAGB (rOAGB) to identify potential postsurgical FA alterations.MethodsThis is a retrospective study on patients with obesity who underwent OAGB procedures (pOAGB n=68; rOAGB n=17), conducted from 2016 to 2018. In blood, we analyzed a series of biochemical parameters, and in the serum, the FA profile was determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.ResultsThe percentage of excess BMI loss (% EBMIL) after pOAGB was 73.5 ± 2.47% in comparison to 45.9 ± 4.15% in the rOAGB group (p<0.001). In contrast to the lack of effect of rOAGB on most polyunsaturated FAs, in the pOAGB group, there was a decrease in eicosapentaenoic acid, and eicosatetraenoic and docosahexaenoic acid levels (p<0.001). We also found a decrease in very long-chain FAs (VLCFAs) and an increase in branched-chain FAs (BCFAs) after both types of OAGB procedure.ConclusionsBoth OAGB procedures improved the profile of most FAs, leading to a decrease in VLCFAs, which are considered harmful, and an improvement in BCFAs, which are considered to be beneficial. There is a need to further investigate the possibility of n-3 polyunsaturated FA supplementation after pOAGB, due to the large decrease in these FAs after pOAGB.Graphical

Genetic analysis of zinc rich landraces for yield, quality and nutritional traits in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Aim: To study genetic variability, correlation, path and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) in a set of 100 zinc rich rice landraces along with four checks. Methodology: The study was carried out at the Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Maruteru, during Rabi season, 2020-2021 in an Augmented Randomized Block Design. Results: Grain yield per plant, grains per panicle, productive tillers m-2 and test weight showed moderate genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) coupled with high heritability and genetic advance as per cent mean. These traits also had positive and significant association coupled with high positive direct effect on grain yield per plant. They also contributed maximum variance to the total variability indicating the effectiveness of direct phenotypic selection for these traits for improving the grain yield per plant. Further, cluster analysis grouped the zinc rich rice landraces along with checks into three clusters. Cluster II had the highest genotypes (42), while Cluster I had 32 genotypes and Cluster III consisted of 30 zinc rich landraces along with three check varieties. Interpretation: Grains per panicle, productive tillers and test weight were identified as effective selection criteria for the improvement of grain yield towards development of high yielding zinc-rich rice varieties to curtail micronutrient malnutrition in areas with rice as staple food. Key words: Cluster analysis, Landraces, Oryza sativa, Path analysis, PCA, Zinc

Molecular characterization of stable QTL and putative candidate genes for grain zinc and iron concentrations in two related wheat populations.

Major QTL for grain zinc and iron concentrations were identified on the long arm of chromosomes 2D and 6D. Gene-based KASP markers were developed for putative candidate genes TaIPK1-2D and TaNAS10-6D. Micronutrient malnutrition is one of the most common public health problems in the world. Biofortification, the most attractive and sustainable solution to surmount malnutrition requires the development of micronutrient enriched new crop cultivars. In this study, two recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations, ZM175/XY60 and ZM175/LX987, were used to identify QTL for grain zinc concentration (GZnC), grain iron concentration (GFeC) and thousand grain weight (TGW). Eight QTL for GZnC, six QTL for GFeC and five QTL for TGW were detected. Three QTL on chromosomes 2DL and 4BS and chromosome 6A showed pleiotropic effects on all three traits. The 4BS and 6A QTL also increased plant height and might be Rht-B1a and Rht25a, respectively. The 2DL locus within a suppressed recombination region was identified in both RIL populations and the favorable allele simultaneously increasing GZnC, GFeC and TGW was contributed by XY60 and LX987. A QTL on chromosome 6DL associated only with GZnC was detected in ZM175/XY60 and was validated in JD8/AK58 RILs using kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) marker K_AX-110119937. Both the 2DL and 6DL QTL were new loci for GZnC. Based on gene annotations, sequence variations and expression profiles, thephytic acid biosynthesis gene TaIPK1-2D and nicotianamine synthase gene TaNAS10-6D were predicted as candidate genes. Their gene-based KASP markers were developed and validated in a cultivar panel of 343 wheat accessions. This study investigated the genetic basis of GZnC and GFeC and provided valuable candidate genes and markers for breeding Zn- and Fe-enriched wheat.

Zinc sulfate biofortification enhances physio-biochemical attributes and oxidative stress tolerance in rice varieties grown in zinc deficient alkaline soil

Zinc (Zn) is a crucial trace mineral with diverse roles in plants; its deficiency in edible plant parts results in micronutrient malnutrition, leading to stunted growth. Zinc deficiency in the soil is a significant factor leading to poor rice quality. This research aimed to reveal the impact of Zn biofortification on rice productivity and to introduce rice cultivars with enriched nutrients. The effects of various zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) rates viz. 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mM (designated as T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively) on the germination process, chlorophyll pigments, biochemical activities, and the mitigation of oxidative damage in four different rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars (KSK-133, Basmati-198, Basmati-515, and PK-386) grown in alkaline Zn-deficient soil were evaluated. A control without Zn application (T0) was kept for comparison. Results demonstrated that Zn treatments significantly affected the germination rates, vegetative growth, photosynthetic attributes, and enzymatic and non-enzymatic activities of all tested cultivars. Zn application significantly ameliorated the oxidative stress by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities such as catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), glutathione peroxidase, and non-enzymatic compounds (such as flavonoids, proline, phenolics, reducing sugar and non-reducing sugar, total carbohydrates, and free amino acid) in all tested cultivars. Among the application rates, ZnSO4 application at 400 mM depicted the highest values of the above-mentioned traits. Furthermore, recorded data also revealed that ZnSO4 had a significant impact on flavonoids, total carbohydrates, and phenolic contents where its application at 400 mM depicted significantly higher values than other treatments. Among the tested cultivars, Basmati-198 exhibited the highest values of flavonoids, total carbohydrates, and phenolic contents showing an increase of 134.53%, 103.57%, and 265.34%, respectively, over the average of other cultivars. In sum, ZnSO4 application at 400 mM significantly improved rice performance under alkaline conditions whereas its application at 500 mM onsets toxic effect on all tested cultivars. However, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms, further research is needed to conduct long-term field studies at the molecular level.

Effect of Iron and Urea Application on Iron Biofortification of Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.)

ABSTRACT Agronomic biofortification with iron (Fe) may be a viable approach to combat the widespread deficiency of Fe in humans. Thus, the present study was conducted to examine the effect of Fe and urea foliar application on Fe biofortification in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.). The field experiments were conducted at two locations viz. Ludhiana and Faridkot, India. Different treatment combinations of foliar spray of sole Fe (0.5% of FeSO4.7 H2O), sole urea (2% urea), and combined application of Fe and urea at flowering, pod formation, and flowering + pod formation stages along with unsprayed control were applied to lentil. The results of the study revealed that the combined foliar application of Fe and urea at flowering + pod formation stages was the most effective in enhancing grain yield, Fe and zinc (Zn) concentration in plants (at flowering as well as pod formation stage), stover and grain (whole and split). The highest Fe concentration in whole (36% higher over control) as well as split (32.9% higher over control) grain and protein content (21% higher over control) was obtained with foliar application of Fe + urea at flowering + pod formation stages. Conclusively, the combined foliar application of 0.5% FeSO4.7 H2O and 2% urea at flowering + pod formation stages may prove to be a feasible option for increasing grain yield and enrichment of lentils with Fe and Zn to combat micronutrient malnutrition in human populations.

Bio-fortification and Its Impact on Global Health

Biofortification, the process of increasing the density of vitamins and minerals in a crop through plant breeding, agronomic practices, or biotechnology, is being increasingly recognized as a cost-effective and sustainable strategy to address micronutrient malnutrition globally. This comprehensive review provides an in-depth analysis of the role of biofortification in improving global health, with a particular focus on its impact on micronutrient deficiencies, public health, and socioeconomic aspects, along with the challenges and opportunities it presents. The review is timely and relevant, given the persistent challenge of micronutrient malnutrition and the growing interest in sustainable nutrition strategies. It addresses gaps in the current understanding by synthesizing the latest research on various aspects of biofortification and providing insights into its potential and challenges. Biofortification encompasses various methods, from traditional breeding to modern biotechnological approaches. Numerous successful examples of biofortified crops, like Golden Rice and High Iron Beans, underscore its potential. These crops have been demonstrated to contribute significantly to reducing deficiencies of essential micronutrients like iron, vitamin A, and zinc, thereby positively influencing public health outcomes. The review also explores the wider impact of biofortification, including its economic benefits and influence on food security and farmer livelihoods. Acceptance by farmers and consumers and the sociocultural context are highlighted as crucial factors for the successful implementation of biofortification initiatives. Biofortification faces several challenges, ranging from technical issues in the biofortification process, including genetic limitations and bioavailability concerns, to political and regulatory hurdles. Additionally, the environmental impact and sustainability of biofortified crops are critical considerations. Despite these challenges, opportunities exist for future research and development, such as expanding the scope of biofortification, harnessing advanced breeding techniques, and integrating biofortification with other nutrition strategies.

A review of the need for biofortified foods to combat malnutrition

Urbanization has led to increased consumption of industrially produced foods, including in developing countries. Many countries are now addressing micronutrient malnutrition through the use of fortified foods, reaching a larger portion of their population. Poverty has an impact on populations that are essentially deficient in adequate micronutrients. Therefore, it is common practice to include multiple forms of micronutrients. It is often possible to fortify foods with micronutrients. In most cases, adding one or more micronutrients to foods does not significantly increase the cost. In most cases, if the technology is available and the distribution system is appropriate, reinforcement is more cost-effective than other strategies. By consuming fortified foods regularly and frequently, dietary supplements will be more effective in maintaining nutrient reserves than taking supplements intermittently. Adding nutrients to food helps reduce the incidence of undernutrition problems, as well as problems caused by seasonal fluctuations in food supply and bad habits. This will benefit children and pregnant women who need adequate nutrient stores during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as pregnant women who need a steady supply of micronutrients for growth and development. Fortification is beneficial for postpartum women and their babies because it raises the vitamin content in breast milk and reduces their nutritional needs. Fortification of widely consumed and widely distributed foods not only improves the nutritional status of large segments of the population, but also serves other purposes. This review is intended to highlight the importance of using fortified foods to effectively combat malnutrition.

Elucidating the interactive impact of tillage, residue retention and system intensification on pearl millet yield stability and biofortification under rainfed agro-ecosystems.

Micronutrient malnutrition and suboptimal yields pose significant challenges in rainfed cropping systems worldwide. To address these issues, the implementation of climate-smart management strategies such as conservation agriculture (CA) and system intensification of millet cropping systems is crucial. In this study, we investigated the effects of different system intensification options, residue management, and contrasting tillage practices on pearl millet yield stability, biofortification, and the fatty acid profile of the pearl millet. ZT systems with intercropping of legumes (cluster bean, cowpea, and chickpea) significantly increased productivity (7-12.5%), micronutrient biofortification [Fe (12.5%), Zn (4.9-12.2%), Mn (3.1-6.7%), and Cu (8.3-16.7%)], protein content (2.2-9.9%), oil content (1.3%), and fatty acid profile of pearl millet grains compared to conventional tillage (CT)-based systems with sole cropping. The interactive effect of tillage, residue retention, and system intensification analyzed using GGE statistical analysis revealed that the best combination for achieving stable yields and micronutrient fortification was residue retention in both (wet and dry) seasons coupled with a ZT pearl millet + cowpea-mustard (both with and without barley intercropping) system. In conclusion, ZT combined with residue recycling and legume intercropping can be recommended as an effective approach to achieve stable yield levels and enhance the biofortification of pearl millet in rainfed agroecosystems of South Asia.

Variability Studies in Iron and Zinc as Well as Protein Concentration in Blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] Genotypes for Improving Nutritional Quality

Background: Micronutrients significantly impact agricultural production and are necessary for human health. Therefore, a systematic programme on identification of sources with high concentration of iron and zinc is important for overcoming the problem of micronutrient malnutrition. Therefore, present study was undertaken with the objectives (1) to find out iron and zinc concentrations and (2) to identify stable urdbean genotypes. This will be further helpful to set desirable level of iron and zinc concentrations in the upcoming urdbean varieties. Methods: The present study was conducted to evaluate 30 urdbean genotypes for variability studies of iron, zinc and protein content. The experiment was laid out in the randomized complete block design and replicated thrice at the experimental farm of Punjab Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, Gurdaspur, Punjab (India) during spring 2019 and 2020. Result: Analysis of variance showed that effect due to genotypes was significant for iron, zinc and protein content as well Iron and Zinc content ranged from (28.75 ppm to 90.75 ppm) and (44.75 ppm to 60.0 ppm) respectively, while protein content ranged from (18.7 to 25.13)%. The genotype PDU1 and OBG35 possessed high level of all three nutrients viz., Fe, Zn and protein. Fe content showed significant positive correlation with Zn content suggesting that both the nutrient can be improved simultaneously. Micronutrient dense genotypes identified can be used as donar to develop nutrient enriched varieties either through conventional breeding or by using biotechnological tool like marker assisted selection.

Zinc-Sulphate and Zn-EDTA Enhances Zn and Other Nutrients and Yield and Quality of Table-Purpose Peanut Cultivars

ABSTRACT Zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) deficiencies in humans are major problems worldwide, which necessitate their increase in food crops. Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), which is a good nutritional source of Zn and Fe, is used as a table-purpose food item worldwide, but is mostly grown under poor-fertility soils, resulting in low Zn concentrations in the edible seed. In a 2-year field study, the influence of zinc sulfate and Zn-EDTA, at 2 kg Zn ha−1, was studied in 20 confectionery peanut cultivars where both of these Zn sources increased yield attributes, 100-seed weight, and Zn, P, and K concentrations in seed. The respective mean concentrations of Zn, P, and K in the seed were 43 mg kg−1 and 0.61% and 0.75% in control which increased to 50 mg kg−1 and 0.62% and 0.76%, with the application of zinc sulfate and 46 mg kg−1 and 0.63% and 0.82%, respectively, with the application of Zn-EDTA. The cultivars TG 37A, GG 7, HNG 69, ICGV 00348, CSMG 884, and BAU 13 showed high protein (25% and above), Zn (>50 mg kg−1), Fe (>75 mg kg−1), P (>0.60%), and K (>0.75%) with the application of zinc sulfate and hence are being recommended for cultivation and their use as food to ameliorate micronutrient malnutrition.

Does Internet use connect smallholder farmers to a healthy diet? Evidence from rural China.

Undernutrition and micronutrient malnutrition remain problems of significant magnitude among small-scale subsistence farmers, posing a serious threat to their health and well-being. Developing a healthy diet can effectively reduce this threat. Fortunately, the Internet can speed up the process. Based on survey data from 5,114 farm households in nine provinces in China, this study quantitatively assesses the impact of Internet use on the dietary quality of smallholder farmers using OLS regression models and PSM models. (1) Internet use can significantly contribute to dietary diversity and dietary rationality among smallholder farmers, thus optimizing their dietary structure. (2) Internet use significantly increased the average consumption amounts of milk and its products (2.9 g), fruits (21.5 g), eggs (7.5 g), and vegetables (27.1 g), while also decreasing the intake of salts (1.5 g) and oil (3.8 g). (3) The pull of internet use to improve diet quality is more significant for smallholder households with lower levels of education, older heads of households, and higher household incomes. (4) A possible mechanism is that Internet use increases household income and information access skills of rural residents, thus improving their dietary quality. In summary, governments should further promote Internet penetration in rural areas for health purposes.

PRISMA and Sentinel-2 spectral response to the nutrient composition of grains

Micronutrient malnutrition is a global challenge affecting >2 billion people, in particular those with a crop-based diet and limited access to nutrient-rich food sources. Conventional methods for measuring the crop nutrients such as wet chemical analysis of grains are time-consuming and cost-prohibitive and, consequently, unsuitable for the consistent quantification of nutrients across space and time. In this study, we propose a new method that is using PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa (PRISMA) and Sentinel-2 images to estimate the nutrient concentrations of crop grains before harvest.We collected grain samples for corn, rice, soybean, and wheat from a farm situated in Italy and measured their nutrient concentrations in the lab. These measurements together with the PRISMA and Sentinel-2 images acquired at the main phases of crop development (vegetative, reproductive, maturity) were used as input for two-band vegetation indices (TBVIs) and Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) to predict Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Sulphur (S) and Zinc (Zn). Models' performances were assessed using the coefficient of determination (R2) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). For PRISMA images, the best prediction results were obtained for P in soybean (R2 = 0.69), K in soybean (R2 = 0.66), Mg in soybean (R2 = 0.58), Fe in soybean (R2 = 0.57), K in wheat (R2 = 0.57), K in corn (R2 = 0.55), P in wheat (R2 = 0.51), S in rice (R2 = 0.58) using TBVIs. In contrast to PRISMA, PLSR outperformed TBVIs when Sentinel-2 images were used as input. For Sentinel-2, the best predictions were obtained for P in soybean (R2 = 0.73), K in wheat (R2 = 0.67), Mg in soybean (R2 = 0.62), Zn in wheat (R2 = 0.56), Fe in soybean (R2 = 0.52), P in wheat (R2 = 0.52). Our study showed that estimating the nutrient composition of crops using remote sensing images has the potential to change how we approach a cost-effective, timely, and spatially explicit representation of the crops' nutritional quality.

Zinc and iron foliar feeding on different lathyrus varieties influencing the biofortification, bio-availability and productivity

Globally two billion population is under micronutrient malnutrition due to poor quality food intake. Foliar fertilization of micronutrients is a deliberate attempt to increase its concentration in edible portion of crop and to enhance consumer diet with targeted elements. A two-year field experiment was designed to validate whether foliar application is effective for biofortification of iron (Fe) and Zinc (Zn) in lathyrus and its bioavailability as well. The experiment was carried out following split plot design taking three lathyrus varieties in main plot (V1: Nirmal, V2: Prateek, and V3: Ratan) and four foliar sprays at pre-flowering and pod development stages in sub plot (F1: Control, F2: 0.5% FeSO4, F3: 0.5% ZnSO4, and F4: 0.5% FeSO4 + 0.5% ZnSO4) with three replications. Zn (highest 3.73 ppm vs. 3.51 ppm in control), Fe (highest 6.68 ppm vs. 6.34 ppm in control) and protein concentration of lathyrus grain consistently increased with foliar fertilization of micronutrients either alone or in combination for all three varieties. F4 treated lathyrus had 21% reduction of phytic acid (PA) concentration, the main inhibitor of mineral absorption in human. With decreased PA concentration PA:Zn and PA:Fe molar ratio were reduced significantly. A maximum of 13% yield increase was also noticed with foliar fertilization as compare to control and the trend can be explained as F4 (13%) > F3 (12%) > F2 (10%).

Molecular dissection of connected rice populations revealed important genomic regions for agronomic and biofortification traits.

Breeding staple crops with increased micronutrient concentration is a sustainable approach to address micronutrient malnutrition. We carried out Multi-Cross QTL analysis and Inclusive Composite Interval Mapping for 11 agronomic, yield and biofortification traits using four connected RILs populations of rice. Overall, MC-156 QTLs were detected for agronomic (115) and biofortification (41) traits, which were higher in number but smaller in effects compared to single population analysis. The MC-QTL analysis was able to detect important QTLs viz: qZn5.2, qFe7.1, qGY10.1, qDF7.1, qPH1.1, qNT4.1, qPT4.1, qPL1.2, qTGW5.1, qGL3.1 , and qGW6.1 , which can be used in rice genomics assisted breeding. A major QTL (qZn5.2 ) for grain Zn concentration has been detected on chromosome 5 that accounted for 13% of R2. In all, 26 QTL clusters were identified on different chromosomes. qPH6.1 epistatically interacted with qZn5.1 and qGY6.2 . Most of QTLs were co-located with functionally related candidate genes indicating the accuracy of QTL mapping. The genomic region of qZn5.2 was co-located with putative genes such as OsZIP5, OsZIP9, and LOC_OS05G40490 that are involved in Zn uptake. These genes included polymorphic functional SNPs, and their promoter regions were enriched with cis-regulatory elements involved in plant growth and development, and biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. Major effect QTL identified for biofortification and agronomic traits can be utilized in breeding for Zn biofortified rice varieties.

Combinatorial effect of heat processing and phytic acid on mineral bioavailability in rice grain

Brown rice is superior to milled rice in terms of bioactive compounds and minerals but also has phytic acid (PA) that may reduce the bioavailability of minerals. Further, various household cooking methods of rice also change the starch matrix, affecting mineral availability. The effect of PA and heat processing methods on Fe and Zn bioavailability from milled rice grain was investigated. Rice with contrasting PA was analyzed for Fe and Zn bioavailability in milled and cooked rice. The genotype Khira, with the lowest PA (2.0 g kg−1), exhibited high Fe and Zn bioavailability, while Phalguni, with the highest PA (11.2 g kg−1), showed low Fe and Zn bioavailability. The PA had a significant negative correlation with Fe and Zn bioavailability. Among three common household cooking methods used (pressure cooking, microwave-assisted cooking and boiling), pressure cooking exerted more remarkable effects on mineral bioavailability than other two methods. Screening rice genotypes for low PA and high Fe, Zn bioavailability can solve the problem of micronutrient malnutrition in countries where people depend on rice as the main staple food. The selection of appropriate cooking methods is also helps to enhance mineral bioavailability.

Genetic and genomic interventions in crop biofortification: Examples in millets.

Micronutrient malnutrition is a serious threat to the developing world's human population, which largely relies on a cereal-based diet that lacks diversity and micronutrients. Besides major cereals, millets represent the key sources of energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals for people residing in the dryland tropics and drought-prone areas of South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Millets serve as multi-purpose crops with several salient traits including tolerance to abiotic stresses, adaptation to diverse agro-ecologies, higher productivity in nutrient-poor soils, and rich nutritional characteristics. Considering the potential of millets in empowering smallholder farmers, adapting to changing climate, and transforming agrifood systems, the year 2023 has been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Millets. In this review, we highlight recent genetic and genomic innovations that can be explored to enhance grain micronutrient density in millets. We summarize the advances made in high-throughput phenotyping to accurately measure grain micronutrient content in cereals. We shed light on genetic diversity in millet germplasm collections existing globally that can be exploited for developing nutrient-dense and high-yielding varieties to address food and nutritional security. Furthermore, we describe the progress made in the fields of genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and phenomics with an emphasis on enhancing the grain nutritional content for designing competitive biofortified varieties for the future. Considering the close genetic-relatedness within cereals, upcoming research should focus on identifying the genetic and genomic basis of nutritional traits in millets and introgressing them into major cereals through integrated omics approaches. Recent breakthroughs in the genome editing toolbox would be crucial for mainstreaming biofortification in millets.

Biofortification of mungbean (Vigna radiata L. (Wilczek)) with boron, zinc and iron alters its grain yield and nutrition

Mungbean [Vigna radiata L. (Wilczek)] is considered as an extremely nutritious crop possessing a high level of micronutrients, but their low bioavailability in the crop leads to micronutrient malnutrition in humans. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the potential of nutrients viz. boron (B), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) biofortification on productivity, nutrient concentration and uptake as well as the economics of mungbean cultivation. In the experiment, the various combinations of RDF with ZnSO4.7H2O (0.5%), FeSO4.7H2O (0.5%) and borax (0.1%) were applied to mungbean variety ML 2056. The combined foliar application of Zn, Fe and B was highly efficient in increasing the yield of grain as well as straw in mungbean exhibiting maximum values i.e. 944 kg ha−1 and 6133 kg ha−1, respectively. Similar results for B, Zn and Fe concentration in grain (27.3 mg kg−1, 35.7 mg kg−1 and 187.1 mg kg−1, respectively) and straw (21.1 mg kg−1, 18.6 mg kg−1 and 376.1 mg kg−1, respectively) of mungbean were observed. Also, uptake of Zn and Fe by grain (31.3 g ha−1 and 164.4 g ha−1, respectively), as well as straw (113.7 g ha−1 and 2295.0 g ha−1, respectively), was maximum for the above treatment. Whereas, the B uptake was found to enhance significantly through the combined application of B, Zn and Fe, where the values 24.0 g ha−1 and 128.7 g ha−1 corresponded to grain and straw, respectively. Thus, combined use of ZnSO4.7H2O (0.5%) + FeSO4.7H2O (0.5%) and borax (0.1%) significantly improved the yield outcomes, the concentration of B, Zn and Fe, uptake and economic returns of mungbean cultivation to alleviate the B, Zn and Fe deficiency.

Preparation of Zn-Gly and Se-Gly and Their Effects on the Nutritional Quality of Tea (Camellia sinensis).

Micronutrient malnutrition affects millions of people due to a lack of Zn and Se. The process conditions for the manufacture of glycine-chelated sodium selenite (Se-Gly) and zinc sulfate heptahydrate (Zn-Gly) were studied. The effects of ligand concentration, pH, reaction ratio, reaction temperature, and reaction time on fertilizer stability were assessed. The effects of Zn-Gly and Se-Gly on tea plants were determined. Orthogonal experiments showed that the optimal preparation conditions for Zn-Gly (75.80 % Zn chelation rate) were pH 6.0, ligand concentration 4 %, reaction ratio 1:2, reaction time 120 min, reaction temperature 70 ℃. The optimal preparation conditions for Se-Gly (56.75 % Se chelation rate) were pH 6.0, ligand concentration 10%, reaction ratio 2:1, reaction time 40 min, temperature 50 ℃. Each chelate was completely soluble in water and verified by infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet spectroscopy. Zn-Gly and Se-Gly increased the Zn and Se content in tea plants, and foliar application was more effective than soil application. Combined application of Zn-Gly and Se-Gly was more effective than Zn-Gly or Se-Gly alone. Our findings suggest that Zn-Gly and Se-Gly provide a convenient method of addressing human Zn and Se deficiency.