Crop biofortification for iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and vitamin A with transgenic approaches

Kumar, S and Palve, A and Joshi, C and Srivastava, R K and Rukhsar, - (2019) Crop biofortification for iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and vitamin A with transgenic approaches. Heliyon (TSI), 5(6) (01914). pp. 1-6. ISSN 24058440

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Abstract

Micronutrient malnutrition is an important issue in the developing countries especially in Asia and Africa where millions of school-going children and pregnant women are affected. Poor people are more exposed to risks of malnutrition and hidden hunger due to intake of carbohydrate rich but micronutrient deficient plant based food. The expansion of high yielding but micronutrient poor cultivars further intensified the malnutrition. The existing approaches viz., supplementation and food fortification of staple food with minerals and vitamins can address the issue of adequate nutrition security. But supplementation and fortification is neither feasible for each nutrient specially iron nor viable due to recurrent cost. Recently, genetic bio-fortification of crops is emerged as self-targeted and non-recurrent approach to address the micronutrient malnutrition. Most of the traditional breeding approaches were limited due to non-availability of enough genetic variation in the crossable genepools. Additionally, it also lacks the modulation of target gene expression underlying the micronutrient accumulation. At this juncture, genetic engineering based food biofortification is promising way to address the hidden hunger especially, where breeding is not rewarding due to lack of genetic variability. Genetic modification through gene technology is swift and accurate method to develop nutrient denser crops without any recurrent investment as compared to different strategies.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Research Program : Genetic Gains
CRP:	UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Plant Biology, Natural sciences, Biofortification, Minerals, Nutritional security, Transgenics, malnutrition, Asia, Africa, genetic engineering, genetic modification, gene technology, Micronutrients, transgenic crops, iron, zinc, vitamin A, Rice, Wheat, Maize
Subjects:	Others > Biotechnology Others > Genetic Engineering Others > Molecular Biology Others > Biofortification Others > Genetics and Genomics Others > Food and Nutrition Others > Food Security
Depositing User:	Mr Ramesh K
Date Deposited:	21 Aug 2019 06:01
Last Modified:	21 Aug 2019 06:01
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/11258
Official URL:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01914
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement:	UNSPECIFIED
Links:	Google Scholar

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