Prospects of breeding biofortified pearl millet with high grain iron and zinc content

Abstract

Development of crop cultivars with elevated levels of micronutrients is being increasingly recognized as one of the approaches to provide sustainable solutions to various health problems associated with micronutrient malnutrition, especially in developing countries. To assess the prospects of this approach in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), a diverse range of genetic materials, consisting of 40 hybrid parents, 30 each of population progenies and improved populations, and 20 germplasm accessions, was analysed for grain iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content, deficiencies of which adversely affect human health. Based on the mean performance in two seasons at ICRISAT, Patancheru, India, large variability among the entries was found, both for Fe (30.1-75.7 mg/kg on dry weight basis) and Zn (24.5-64.8 mg/kg). The highest levels of grain Fe and Zn were observed in well-adapted commercial varieties and their progenies, and in the parental lines of hybrids, which were either entirely based on iniari germplasm, or had large components of it in their parentage. There were indications of large within-population genetic variability for both Fe and Zn. The correlation between Fe and Zn content was positive and highly significant (r ¼ 0.84; P < 0.01). These results indicate that there are good prospects of simultaneous selection for both micronutrients, and that selection within populations, especially those with the predominantly iniari germplasm, is likely to provide good opportunities for developing pearl millet varieties and hybrid parents with significantly improved grain Fe and Zn content in pearl millet.

Nutritionally Enhanced Staple Food Crops

“…A negative association may pose problems for breeding of seed mineral-dense cultivars with high seed yield per se. Seed weight in pearl millet is highly significant and positively associated with seed Fe (r ¼ 0.80) and Zn (r ¼ 0.85) (Velu et al 2007), while it is significant and positively correlated (r ¼ 0.61) with Fe in common bean (Gelin et al 2007). …”

Gene effects and heterosis for grain iron and zinc density in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br)

“…It is a major source of mineral micronutrients in several African countries as well. Results of a preliminary study have shown large variability for grain Fe and Zn among breeding lines and populations as well as within the populations (Velu et al 2007). An understanding of the nature of gene action and heterosis would be a significant input into designing effective breeding strategies for the development of OPVs and hybrids.…”

Progress update: Crop development of biofortified staple food crops under HarvestPlus

“…Initial screening of germplasm accessions found ranges of 30-76 ppm iron (and 25-65 ppm zinc) in pearl millet, nearly reaching the full breeding target of 77 ppm (that is, an increment of +30 ppm additional grain iron compared to 47 ppm on average in non-biofortified germplasm). High-iron genotypes were selected to initiate crosses [62,63]. High correlation between iron and zinc content indicated good prospects for simultaneous selection for the two micronutrients [64,65,66].…”