Database for grain Fe and Zn in sorghum – A proposal

Ashok Kumar, A and Reddy, B V S and Ramaiah, B (2012) Database for grain Fe and Zn in sorghum – A proposal. Journal of SAT Agricultural Research, 10. pp. 1-7. ISSN 0973-3094

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Abstract

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is the fifth most important cereal staple crop in subtropical and semi-arid regions of Africa and Asia (Reddy et al. 2011). It is the second cheapest source of energy and micronutrients, after pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) with a vast majority of the population in Africa and Central India depending on it for their dietary energy and micronutrient requirements (Parthasarathy Rao et al. 2006). Micronutrient malnutrition, primarily the result of diets deficient in bioavailable vitamins and minerals, causes blindness and anemia (even death) in more than half of the world’s population, especially among women of reproductive age, pregnant and lactating women and pre-school children (Underwood 2000, Sharma 2003, Welch and Graham 2004). Efforts are being made to provide fortified foods to these vulnerable groups. Biofortification, where possible, is the most costeffective and sustainable solution for tackling micronutrient deficiencies in developing countries of arid-tropical and subtropical regions as the intake of micronutrients is on a continuous basis with no additional cost to the consumer. Widespread interest is being shown in biofortification of sorghum by increasing mineral micronutrients [especially iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn)] in grains (Pfeiffer and McClafferty 2007, Ashok Kumar et al. 2009).

Item Type: Article
Divisions: UNSPECIFIED
CRP: UNSPECIFIED
Subjects: Mandate crops > Sorghum
Depositing User: Mr Siva Shankar
Date Deposited: 03 Dec 2012 07:44
Last Modified: 04 Dec 2012 10:36
URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/6246
Official URL: http://ejournal.icrisat.org/index.htm
Projects: Identification of micronutrients (Fe and Zn) and Vitamin A precursor (β carotene) dense sorghum for better health in Western and Central Africa (WCA) and central India
Funders: HarvestPlus Challenge Program
Acknowledgement: Thanks are also due to Dr Hari Upadhyaya for supplying the sorghum core germplasm accessions and the public and private sector NARS partners in India who contributed their cultivars for this study and Dr KL Sahrawat for assessing the grain Fe and Zn concentrations.
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