Genetic Variability and Character Association for Grain Iron and Zinc Contents in Sorghum Germplasm Accessions and Commercial Cultivars

Ashok Kumar, A and Reddy, B V S and Ramaiah, B and Sahrawat, K L and Pfeiffer, W H (2012) Genetic Variability and Character Association for Grain Iron and Zinc Contents in Sorghum Germplasm Accessions and Commercial Cultivars. European Journal of Plant Science and Biotechnology, 6 (1). pp. 1-5. ISSN 1752-3842

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Abstract

Sorghum a widely consumed cereal stapled in sub-tropical and semi-arid regions of Africa and Asia. Sorghum is the second cheapest source of energy and micronutrients (after pearl millet). Micronutrient malnutrition, primarily the result of diets poor in bio-available vitamins and minerals, causes blindness and anemia (even death) in more than half of the world’s population, especially among women and children. Biofortification wherever possible, is a cost effective and sustainable solution for tackling the micronutrient deficiencies as the intake of micronutrients is on a continuing basis with no additional costs to the consumer. ICRISAT is working on sorghum biofortification for enhancing Fe and Zn contents of the grain. Large variability for grain Fe and Zn contents was found from assessment of core germplasm collections (>2200), and from these, promising donors were identified for further improvement. Significant positive association observed between grain Fe and Zn contents indicated that it is feasible to develop high Fe and Zn containing cultivars with high yielding and different maturity backgrounds. The commercial sorghum cultivars (66) currently being cultivated by the farmers in India, were evaluated to identify high Fe and Zn cultivars in adapted backgrounds. Identification of commercial cultivars with high grain Fe and Zn content would help in wider dissemination of the cultivars to complement the on-going efforts for combating the micronutrient malnutrition.

Item Type: Article
Divisions: UNSPECIFIED
CRP: UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords: hybrids, landraces, micronutrients, Sorghum bicolor, varieties, yield and correlati
Subjects: Mandate crops > Sorghum
Others > Genetics and Genomics
Depositing User: Mr Sanat Kumar Behera
Date Deposited: 28 Sep 2012 06:35
Last Modified: 06 Oct 2012 08:26
URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/6156
Official URL: http://www.globalsciencebooks.info/JournalsSup/12E...
Projects: Identification of micronutrients (Feand Zn) and Vitamin A precursor (ß carotene) dense sorghum for better health in Western and Central Africa (WCA) and central India
Funders: HarvestPlus Challenge Program
Acknowledgement: The funding support for this study from HarvestPlus Challenge Program under the project `Identification of micronutrients (Fe and Zn) and Vitamin A precursor (ß carotene) dense sorghum for better health in Western and Central Africa (WCA) and central India’ is duly acknowledged. 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
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