Elevated carotenoids in staple crops: The biosynthesis, challenges and measures for target delivery

Abstract

Poverty eradication and global food security are among the targets of world leaders, most especially combating the scourge of hidden hunger. Provitamin A carotenoids cannot be synthesized de novo by human and so it must be taken as part of the diet. The deficiency of which is causing almost 6000 sights to be lost daily in most developing countries because of the monotonous starchy diets lacking substantial amount of carotenoid. Conventional breeding as well as genetic engineering have been used to increase the level of carotenoid in many staples including rice, potato, maize and cassava. While products from genetic engineering are still been subjected to strict regulatory measures preventing the delivery of the products to target consumers, some of the products from conventional breeding are already on the table of consumers. Interestingly, both technologies are crucial to tackling micronutrient deficiencies. This review discusses the role of carotenoid in human, the biosynthesis in plant and some of the staple crops that have been modified for increased carotenoid. Some measures expected of the leaders of the countries in need of these products for safe delivery to the target population after two decades is also highlighted.

The Exploitation of Orphan Legumes for Food, Income, and Nutrition Security in Sub-Saharan Africa

“…A critical requirement for improving crops by this technique is in-depth bioinformatic and genomic information, as the technology relies on functionally characterized target genes ( Wolter et al, 2019 ). Primarily, the phytoene desaturase (PDS) gene which encodes an enzyme involved in carotenoid biosynthesis is the most commonly targeted gene in orphan legumes ( Badejo, 2018 ; Venezia and Creasey Krainer, 2021 ). Furthermore, researchers at the international crops research institute for the semi-arid tropics (ICRISAT) are currently experimenting with the technique to knock down flowering time and photoreceptor genes correlated with photoperiod sensitivity in pigeons pea ( ICRISAT, 2020 ).…”

The chronic effects of cyanide on oxidative stress indices in the domestic chicken (Gallus domesticus L.)

“…(Tewe, 1994). One of such raw material that has been used locally in Nigeria is cassava, but the use of cassava as raw material in the feed industry has two major disadvantages or rather limitations and these include its low crude protein content of about 1-3% (Badejo, 2018;Morgan & Choct, 2016) and the synthesis and storage of cyanogenic glycosides present in its tuber. The toxicity of these cyanogenic glycosides has been attributed to their release of cyanide.…”

Crocus genome reveals the evolutionary origin of crocin biosynthesis

“…Carotenoids are lipid-soluble isoprenoids that act as the basis of plant pigments, such as flowers and fruits, and carotenogenesis genes have been completely elucidated in plants 30 , 31 . First, two molecules of geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) are condensed to form carotenoid skeleton phytoene by phytoene synthase (PSY), and phytoene is sequentially catalyzed to produce lycopene under a series of enzymes, including phytoene desaturase (PDS), 15- cis-ζ -carotene isomerase (Z-ISO), ζ -carotene desaturase (ZDS), and carotenoid isomerase (CRTISO) 32 , 33 ( Fig.…”