ZINC BIO-FORTIFICATION AND SUSTAINABLE WHEAT PRODUCTIVITY FOR NUTRITIONAL AND FOOD SECURITY Abstract uri icon

abstract

  • Wheat is an important winter season crop in Asia and the main source of human nutrition. Adoption of high yielding dwarf wheat varieties and management practices resulted in a significant improvement in wheat productivity. During wheat improvement phase, the grain zinc in improved varieties went down. Zinc is essential micronutrients for humans and plants. Man needs 12 mg while woman needs 10-12 mg zinc daily. Nearly 4.4% of children deaths (< 5 years age) are due to zinc deficiency in the world. Low zinc intake in human diets like wheat is the main reason for widespread zinc deficiency. Biofortification of zinc in wheat can be achieved by breeding zinc dense varieties called genetic bio-fortification and through fertilizer application technique called agronomic bio-fortification. The zinc bio-fortified wheat variety PBW 1 Zn in India has already been recommended in India. Studies conducted across the globe in different climates and soil conditions showed significant increase in grain zinc and yield of wheat through foliar zinc fertilization. Studies (2009-10 to 2017-18) conducted in India under irrigated conditions in Punjab have shown that foliar application of 0.5% zinc sulphate (Zn 21%) at the time of anthesis and near early milk stages of wheat can enrich the grains with zinc by 1.5 to 2 folds. Other studies also confirmed that zinc sulphate can be applied along with propiconazole fungicide. Although, zinc supplements and other zinc rich foods can correct human zinc deficiency but the use of zinc bio-fortified food is the cheap and good alternative. So, agronomic biofortification can enrich zinc and sustain wheat productivity for nutritional security.

publication date

  • July 2019