Biofortification: High zinc wheat programme – The potential agricultural options for alleviating malnutrition in Pakistan

Abstract

<p>The deficiency of micronutrients (zinc, iron, iodine and vitamin A) is persistently afflicting millions of people living across Africa, Southern Americas, Asia and Pakistan. Among these, the zinc deficiency syndrome is occurring by 47.6, 41.3, and 39.2% in pregnant, non-pregnant and children under 5 years, respectively in Pakistan. The reason being that majority of the people subsists on cereal-based diets, i.e., wheat. The commercially grown wheat varieties contain zinc about 25 mg/g, whereas about 40 mg/g zinc is required in daily diet.</p><p>The potential risk of zinc deficiency could be mitigated through certain interventions i.e., mineral drugs, food supplements, diversity in diets, production of fortified foods, and genetic biofortification of staple food crops. Among these, quantum increase in zinc content in wheat grains through genetic manipulation would be basics to alleviate zinc deficiency in the malnourished communities. The objective of the programme is to enhance the concentration of zinc nutrient from 25 to 40 mg/g in wheat grains through conventional plant breeding techniques.</p>Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Islamabad in collaboration with Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and International Maize & Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and HarvestPlus, Pakistan started R&D works to develop biofortified high zinc wheat varieties containing around 40 mg/g in the year 2009. The biofortified wheat crop is developed through conventional plant breeding techniques. The germplasm inherited with high zinc nutrient are crossed with high yielding and adopted to ecological conditions. The varieties are high yielding, and inheriting zinc around 40 mg/g in the grains under both irrigated and rainfed production environments. The Government of Punjab has also given high priority to develop and consume biofortified high zinc wheat in its multi-sectoral Nutrition Strategy Plan 2015, as potential agricultural option to address malnutrition in the Punjab province.

Assessing Genetic Diversity to Breed Competitive Biofortified Wheat With Enhanced Grain Zn and Fe Concentrations

“…These materials represent a significant stepping stone to achieve the ultimate goal of micronutrient-enriched wheat. Competitive high Zn wheat varieties have been tested broadly for adaptation and stability in target locations and released by national programs in some developing countries (Velu et al, 2012, 2015; Baloch et al, 2015). Some of these, such as the “Zinc-Shakti,” “WB-02,” “HPBW-01,” and “Ankur Shiva” wheat varieties released in India by public and private partners and, more recently, “Nohely-F2018” released in Mexico for the Mexicali valley of northern Sonora region.…”

Determination of zinc and iron in wheat using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

“…Micronutrient malnutrition arising from zinc and iron causes severe human health problems for over 2 billion people around the globe [1,2]. Zinc deficiency has been reported as a universal micronutrient deficiency in humans and crops [3][4][5][6]. Zinc deficiency affects numerous functions in the human body, like reduction in growth, immunity and reproduction; associated with a higher risk of stunting, pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria, respiratory diseases, childhood mortality and premature births in pregnancy [7,8].…”

“…Zinc in wheat grain is mainly present in the aleurone layer and embryo parts [6]. The wheat varieties grown in Pakistan has an average zinc of 25 mg kg −1 , whereas the required daily diet intake is 40 mg kg −1 [4]. The annual per capita consumption of wheat in Pakistan is among the highest (125 kg) compared to the world average of 67 kg [13]; but still it is not providing the sufficient daily requirements of zinc and iron.…”

“…The national agricultural research centre (NARC), Islamabad, Pakistan, started a programme during 2009 aiming to develop the biofortified wheat varieties containing zinc around 40 mg kg −1 through conventional plant breeding techniques [4]. Currently, zinc and iron biofortified crops are being cultivated and consumed in many countries.…”