Association of OsYSL9 gene with high iron and zinc content in rice grains and identification of elite rice lines

Abstract

Rice with significant mineral content would be great advantage to half of the world population. Identification of mineral enhancing genomic regions in rice could help to further increase the content of iron/zinc or both in grain. Considering the advantages of BPT 5204 and Chittimutyalu, RIL (Recombinant Inbreed Line) population (300) was developed and grain iron and zinc content (brown and polished) was estimated in F8 generation. The iron content in brown rice was ranged from 4.4 ppm to 32.6 ppm and in polished rice 1.3-12.6 ppm, while the zinc content was 8.1-57.5 ppm in brown rice and 5.8- 37.4 ppm in polished rice. Loss of iron during polishing is many times more than zinc. The OsYSL9 putative gene showed significant association with iron and zinc in both brown and polished rice grains. Out of 300 populations six lines have high zinc content in endosperm with good yield.