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Enhancement of grain Fe and Zinc Concentration in Cereals-Biofortification approach

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Relation http://oar.icrisat.org/11781/
 
Title Enhancement of grain Fe and Zinc Concentration in Cereals-Biofortification approach
 
Creator Mahendrakar, M D
Gaddameedi, A
Srivastava, R K
 
Subject Cereals
Food and Nutrition
 
Description Micronutrient malnutrition alone afflicts more than two billion people, mostly among
resource-poor families in developing countries, with Zn, Fe, I and vitamin A deficiencies
most prevalent globally. More than five million childhood deaths occur from micronutrient
malnutrition every year. Currently, mineral malnutrition is considered to be among the most
serious global challenges to human kind and is avoidable. Among different micronutrients,
Fe, Zn, deficiency is a well-documented problem in food crops, causing decreased crop yields
and nutritional quality. Generally, the regions in the world with Fe, Zn-deficient soils are also
characterized by widespread Fe, Zn deficiency in humans. Recent estimates indicate that
nearly half of world population suffers from Fe, Zn deficiency. Cereal crops play an
important role in satisfying daily calorie intake in developing world, but they are inherently
very low in Fe, Zn concentrations in grain, particularly when grown on Fe, Zn-deficient soils.
The reliance on cereal-based diets may induce Zn deficiency-related health problems in
humans, such as impairments in physical development, Immune system and brain function.
Among the strategies being discussed as major solution to Fe, Zn deficiency, genetic
biofortification appears to be a most sustainable and cost-effective approach useful in
improving Fe, Zn concentrations in grain. Scientific evidence shows this is technically
feasible without compromising agronomic productivity.
 
Date 2016-02
 
Type Conference or Workshop Item
PeerReviewed
 
Format application/pdf
 
Language en
 
Identifier http://oar.icrisat.org/11781/1/NZ2.pdf
Mahendrakar, M D and Gaddameedi, A and Srivastava, R K (2016) Enhancement of grain Fe and Zinc Concentration in Cereals-Biofortification approach. In: Omics Technologies For Better Food and Nutrition, February 25th , 2016, Nizamabad, Telangana, India.