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Field experiments were conducted on wheat to study the effects of foliar-applied iodine(I) alone, Zn (zinc) alone, and a micronutrient cocktail solution containing I, Zn, Se (selenium), and Fe (iron) on grain yield and grain concentrations of micronutrients. Plants were grown over 2 years in China, India, Mexico, Pakistan, South Africa, and Turkey. Grain-Zn was increased from 28.6 mg kg -1 to 46.0 mg -1 kg with Zn-spray and 47.1 mg -1 kg with micronutrient cocktail spray. Foliar-applied I and micronutrient cocktail increased grain I from 24 μg kg -1 to 361 μg kg -1 and 249 μg kg -1 , respectively. Micronutrient cocktail also increased grain-Se from 90 μg kg -1 to 338 μg kg -1 in all countries. Average increase in grain-Fe by micronutrient cocktail solution was about 12%. The results obtained demonstrated that foliar application of a cocktail micronutrient solution represents an effective strategy to biofortify wheat simultaneously with Zn, I, Se and partly with Fe without yield trade-off in wheat.

Background: Limited data exist on human zinc absorption from wheat biofortified via foliar (FBW) or root (hydroponically fortified wheat, HBW) zinc application. Stable isotope labels added at point of consumption (extrinsic labeling) might not reflect absorption from native zinc obtained by intrinsic labeling., Objectives: We measured fractional and total zinc absorption (FAZ, TAZ) in FBW and HBW wheat, compared with control wheat (CW) and fortified wheat (FW). The effect of labeling method was assessed in HBW (study 1), and the effect of milling extraction rate (EXR, 80% and 100%) in FBW (studies 2 and 3)., Methods: Generally healthy adults (n = 71, age: 18-45 y, body mass index: 18.5-25 kg/m2) were allocated to 1 of the studies, in which they served as their own controls. In study 1, men and women consumed wheat porridges colabeled intrinsically and extrinsically with 67Zn and 70Zn. In studies 2 and 3, women consumed wheat flatbreads (chapatis) labeled extrinsically. Zinc absorption was measured with the oral to intravenous tracer ratio method with a 4-wk wash-out period between meals. Data were analyzed with linear mixed models., Results: In study 1 there were no differences in zinc absorption from extrinsic versus intrinsic labels in either FW or HBW. Similarly, FAZ and TAZ from FW and HBW did not differ. TAZ was 70-76% higher in FW and HBW compared with CW (P < 0.01). In studies 2 and 3, TAZ from FW and FBW did not differ but was 20-48% higher compared with CW (P < 0.001). Extraction rate had no effect on TAZ., Conclusions: Colabeling demonstrates that extrinsic zinc isotopic labels can be used to accurately quantify zinc absorption from wheat in humans. Biofortification through foliar zinc application, root zinc application, or fortification provides higher TAZ compared with unfortified wheat. In biofortified wheat, extraction rate (100-80%) has a limited impact on total zinc absorption. These studies were registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01775319)., (Copyright © American Society for Nutrition 2019.)

Inherently low concentrations of zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), iodine (I), and selenium (Se) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grains represent a major cause of micronutrient malnutrition (hidden hunger) in human populations. Genetic biofortification represents a highly useful solution to this problem. However, genetic biofortification alone may not achieve desirable concentrations of micronutrients for human nutrition due to several soil- and plant-related factors. This study investigated the response of genetically biofortified high-Zn wheat genotypes to soil-applied Zn and foliarly applied Zn, I, and Se in India and Pakistan. The effect of soil-applied Zn (at the rate of 50 kg ha−1 as ZnSO4·7H2O) and foliar-applied Zn (0.5% ZnSO4·7H2O), I (0.04% KIO3), Se (0.001% Na2SeO4), and a foliar cocktail (F-CT: combination of the above foliar solutions) on the grain concentrations of Zn, I, Se, and Fe of high-Zn wheat genotypes was investigated in field experiments over 2 years. The predominantly grown local wheat cultivars in both countries were also included as check cultivars. Wheat grain yield was not influenced by the micronutrient treatments at all field locations, except one location in Pakistan where F-CT resulted in increased grain yield. Foliar-applied Zn, I, and Se each significantly enhanced the grain concentration of the respective micronutrients. Combined application of these micronutrients was almost equally effective in enhancing grain Zn, I, and Se, but with a slight reduction in grain yield. Foliar-applied Zn, Zn+I, and F-CT also enhanced grain Fe. In India, high-Zn genotypes exhibited a minor grain yield penalty as compared with the local cultivar, whereas in Pakistan, high-Zn wheat genotypes could not produce grain yield higher than the local cultivar. The study demonstrates that there is a synergism between genetic and agronomic biofortification in enrichment of grains with micronutrients. Foliar Zn spray to Zn-biofortified genotypes provided additional increments in grain Zn of more than 15 mg kg−1. Thus, combining agronomic and genetic strategies will raise grain Zn over 50 mg kg−1. A combination of fertilization practice with plant breeding is strongly recommended to maximize accumulation of micronutrients in food crops and to make significant progress toward resolving the hidden hunger problem in human populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the responses in rice (Oryza sativa cv. Osmancik 97) production and grain zinc (Zn) accumulation to combined Zn and sulfur (S) fertilization. The experiment was designed as a factorial experiment with two Zn and three S concentrations applied to the soil in a completely randomized design with four replications. The plants were grown under greenhouse conditions at low (0.25 mg/kg) and adequate (5 mg/kg) Zn rates combined with S (CaSO 4 ·2H 2 O) application (low, 2.5 mg/kg; moderate, 10 mg/kg, and adequate, 50 mg/kg). The lowest rate of S at adequate soil Zn treatment increased grain yield by 68% compared with the same S rate at low Zn supply. Plants with the adequate S rate at low Zn and adequate Zn supply produced the highest grain yield, with increases of 247% and 143% compared with low S rate at low Zn and adequate Zn supply, respectively. The concentration of grain Zn and S responded differently to the applied S rates depending on the soil Zn condition. The highest grain Zn concentration, reaching 41.5 mg/kg, was observed when adequate Zn was supplied at the low S rate. Conversely, the adequate S rate at the low soil Zn conditions yielded the highest grain S concentration. The total grain Zn uptake per plant showed particular increases in grain Zn yield when adequate S rates were applied, showing increases of 208% and 111% compared with low S rate under low and adequate soil Zn conditions, respectively. The results indicated that the synergistic application of soil Zn and S improves grain production and grain Zn yield. These results highlight the importance of total grain Zn yield in addition to grain Zn concentration, especially under the growth conditions where grain yield shows particular increases as grain Zn is diluted due to increased grain yield by increasing S fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the arabinoxylan (AX) content, yield, recovery, and enrichment factors of milling fractions obtained from short‐ and long‐flow milling from biofortified (+) and nonbiofortified (−) oats cv. Haskara by determining the monosaccharide components besides dietary fiber and mineral contents. Findings: Coarse brans (CB) obtained by short‐flow milling from Haskara (+) and (−) samples had around 3.3% AX contents and 1.5 enrichment factor while fine brans (FB) obtained by long‐flow milling had around 3.8% AX contents and enrichment factors higher than CB. The differences between bran samples of Haskara (+) and Haskara (−) were significant (p <.05) in terms of insoluble dietary fiber. CB of Haskara (+) had 1.5, 2.9, and 3.8 times higher Zn, I, and Se contents than those of whole grain Haskara (−) while FB of Haskara (+) had 1.7, 4.7, and 3.7 times higher Zn, I, and Se contents than those of whole grain Haskara (−), respectively. Conclusions: Mineral/fiber‐rich fractions obtained by biofortification and milling applications can be used against mineral deficiency. Significance and Novelty: This is a pioneering study on AX and mineral contents of fractions obtained by different milling flows from biofortified hull‐less oats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widespread malnutrition of zinc (Zn), iodine (I), iron (Fe) and selenium (Se), known as hidden hunger, represents a predominant cause of several health complications in human populations where rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the major staple food. Therefore, increasing concentrations of these micronutrients in rice grain represents a sustainable solution to hidden hunger. This study aimed at enhancing concentration of Zn, I, Fe and Se in rice grains by agronomic biofortification. We evaluated effects of foliar application of Zn, I, Fe and Se on grain yield and grain concentration of these micronutrients in rice grown at 21 field sites during 2015 to 2017 in Brazil, China, India, Pakistan and Thailand. Experimental treatments were: (i) local control (LC); (ii) foliar Zn; (iii) foliar I; and (iv) foliar micronutrient cocktail (i.e., Zn + I + Fe + Se). Foliar-applied Zn, I, Fe or Se did not affect rice grain yield. However, brown rice Zn increased with foliar Zn and micronutrient cocktail treatments at all except three field sites. On average, brown rice Zn increased from 21.4 mg kg–1 to 28.1 mg kg–1 with the application of Zn alone and to 26.8 mg kg–1 with the micronutrient cocktail solution. Brown rice I showed particular enhancements and increased from 11 μg kg–1 to 204 μg kg–1 with the application of I alone and to 181 μg kg–1 with the cocktail. Grain Se also responded very positively to foliar spray of micronutrients and increased from 95 to 380 μg kg–1. By contrast, grain Fe was increased by the same cocktail spray at only two sites. There was no relationship between soil extractable concentrations of these micronutrients with their grain concentrations. The results demonstrate that irrespective of the rice cultivars used and the diverse soil conditions existing in five major rice-producing countries, the foliar application of the micronutrient cocktail solution was highly effective in increasing grain Zn, I and Se. Adoption of this agronomic practice in the target countries would contribute significantly to the daily micronutrient intake and alleviation of micronutrient malnutrition in human populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to compare bran yields of short‐ and long‐flow roller mill from biofortified (+) and nonbiofortified (−) hull‐less oats cv. Haskara and determine effect of biofortification (Zn, I, Se) on composition and physicochemical properties of fractions. Findings: Zn, I, and Se contents were significantly increased by biofortification. Yields of coarse bran (CB) obtained by short flow were 42.6% for both Haskara samples, while those of fine bran (FB) obtained by long flow were 46.6% and 47.4% for Haskara (+) and Haskara (−). Beta‐glucan (BG) contents of CB were 8.42% and 8.31%, while those of FB were 8.68% and 8.65% for respective samples. There were no significant differences between CB of Haskara (+) and Haskara (−) samples in terms of mass median diameter, dispersion, particle density, porosity, BG solubility, and RVA viscosity. The differences between FB of the same samples were also not significant in terms of those parameters. However, long flow significantly increased dispersion, porosity, BG solubility, and RVA viscosity and significantly decreased mass median diameter and bulk density compared to short flow. Conclusions: Biofortified oats can be used to obtain β‐glucan‐enriched milling fractions. Significance and novelty: This is the first study on bran fractions obtained by different milling flows from biofortified hull‐less oats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Dissection of the genetic basis of wheat ionome is crucial for understanding the physiological and biochemical processes underlying mineral accumulation in seeds, as well as for efficient crop breeding. Most of the elements essential for plants are metals stored in seeds as chelate complexes with phytic acid or sulfur‐containing compounds. We assume that the involvement of phosphorus and sulfur in metal chelation is the reason for strong phenotypic correlations within ionome. Adjustment of element concentrations for the effect of variation in phosphorus and sulfur seed content resulted in drastic change of phenotypic correlations between the elements. The genetic architecture of wheat grain ionome was characterized by quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis using a cross between durum and wild emmer wheat. QTL analysis of the adjusted traits and two‐trait analysis of the initial traits paired with either P or S considerably improved QTL detection power and accuracy, resulting in the identification of 105 QTLs and 617 QTL effects for 11 elements. Candidate gene search revealed some potential functional associations between QTLs and corresponding genes within their intervals. Thus, we have shown that accounting for variation in P and S is crucial for understanding of the physiological and genetic regulation of mineral composition of wheat grain ionome and can be implemented for other plants. Significance Statement: Many of the elements essential for plants are metals stored in seeds as chelate complexes with phytic acid or sulfur‐containing compounds. Adjustment for variation in P and S drastically change phenotypic associations within the ionome and considerably improve QTL detection power and accuracy. Therefore, we propose that this adjustment is crucial for the understanding of the physiological and genetic regulation of mineral composition of the wheat grain ionome, as well as for studies in other plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

About 3 billion people may suffer from micronutrient deficiency such as Ca, Fe, Mg or Zn, caused not only by a mineral deficiency in staple food but also by a high content of phytates which bind those minerals and inhibit their absorption. With the aim of evaluating the potential of new cultivars of bread‐making wheat to accumulate those minerals and low phytates, nine advanced breeding lines from an ongoing Portuguese breeding program were studied during 2 years in a field experiment. A wide genetic variability was found between the studied genotypes in all the parameters studied, especially grain yield (ranging on average between 2,027 and 3,209 kg/ha) and grain Mg and Zn concentrations (ranging on average between 1,070 and 1,336 mg/kg, and 23.4 and 30.7 mg/kg, respectively). In global terms, the cultivars with best performance, and therefore, the most potentially suitable to be used in a breeding program, were the Cultivars 3 and 4. However, such a potential varied depending on the analysed trait, and it was clearly influenced by the climatic conditions. The consumption of 100 g of Cultivar‐4 produced under the most favourable conditions might provide a 5.2% of Ca, 26.4% of Fe, 38.9% of Mg and 31.9% of Zn of the recommended daily intakes, with a very good bioavailability for Fe and Ca, but low for Mg and Zn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After very successful International Symposia on Magnesium in Crop Production and Food Quality in Göttingen, Germany, in May 2012, and in São Paulo, Brazil, in November 2014, the 3rd International Symposium was held in Guangzhou, China, in November 2018. The main topics of this Symposium were the roles of magnesium (Mg) in plant physiology, the molecular biology of plant Mg nutrition, and the consequences of crop Mg nutrition for the nutrition of humans and their livestock. However, as discussed in this Special Issue by Rosanoff and Kumssa ([10]), cereal grains are often subjected to intensive processing, which results in significant losses of Mg and consequently reduces potential Mg intakes from cereal grains by humans. [Extracted from the article]

Abstract: High zinc (Zn) concentration of seeds has beneficial effects both on seed vigor and human nutrition. This study investigated the effect of Zn biofortification on growth of young durum wheat (Triticum durum cv. Yelken) seedlings under varied Zn and water supply. The seeds differing in Zn concentrations were obtained by spraying ZnSO4 to durum wheat plants at different rates under field conditions. Three groups of seeds were obtained with the following Zn concentrations: 9, 20, and 50 mg Zn kg−1. The seeds differing in Zn were tested for germination rate, seedling height, shoot dry matter production, and shoot Zn concentration under limited and well irrigated conditions in a Zn‐deficient soil with and without Zn application. In an additional experiment carried out in solution culture, root and shoot growth and superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) of seedlings were studied under low and adequate Zn supply. Low seed Zn concentration resulted in significant decreases in seedling height both in Zn‐deficient and sufficient soil, but more clearly under water‐limited soil condition. Decrease in seed germination due to low seed Zn was also more evident under limited water supply. Increasing seed Zn concentration significantly restored impairments in seedling development. Drought‐induced decrease in seedling growth at a given seed Zn concentration was much higher when soil was Zn‐deficient. Increasing seed Zn concentration also significantly improved SOD activity in seedlings grown under low Zn supply, but not under adequate Zn supply. The results suggest that using Zn‐biofortified seeds assures better seed vigor and seedling growth, particularly when Zn and water are limited in the growth medium. The role of a higher antioxidative potential (i.e., higher SOD activity) is discussed as a possible major factor in better germination and development of seedlings resulting from Zn‐biofortified seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: The combination of plant breeding and agronomic biofortification is the most reasonable approach to minimize zinc (Zn) deficiency-related problems in humans, but also in crop production. However, its efficiency and suitability under Mediterranean conditions and its effects on the grain yield and quality parameters are not well known. Methods: Field experiments were conducted over two years in south-eastern Portugal, where soils are deficient in Zn. Ten advanced breeding lines and three commercial varieties of bread-making wheat were fertilized with four Zn treatments as following: i) control, ii) soil Zn application, iii) foliar Zn application and iv) both soil and foliar Zn application. Results: Low rainfall produced 46 % more of grain Zn concentration but about 67 % less of grain yield. Grain Zn concentration varied greatly across treatments and cultivars with INIAV-1, INIAV-6, INIAV-9 and the commercial varieties being the most efficient. There were no significant increases in Zn concentrations due to soil Zn application, but gains higher than 20 mg kg were obtained both with foliar and soil+foliar Zn applications. Grain yield was not significantly higher in foliar application, but increased to about 10 % in soil, and about 7 % in soil+foliar applications, respectively. Conclusions: In soils with low Zn availability, the best strategy to improve grain Zn concentrations has been to select the most efficient cultivars for Zn accumulation with the added application of Zn in soil+foliar form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focussed on the effect of increasing nitrogen (N) supply on root uptake and root-to-shoot translocation of zinc (Zn) as well as retranslocation of foliar-applied Zn in durum wheat (Triticum durum). Nutrient solution experiments were conducted to examine the root uptake and root-to-shoot translocation of 65Zn in seedlings precultured with different N supplies. In additional experiments, the effect of varied N nutrition on retranslocation of foliar-applied 65Zn was tested at both the vegetative and generative stages. When N supply was increased, the 65Zn uptake by roots was enhanced by up to threefold and the 65Zn translocation from roots to shoots increased by up to eightfold, while plant growth was affected to a much smaller degree. Retranslocation of 65Zn from old into young leaves and from flag leaves to grains also showed marked positive responses to increasing N supply. The results demonstrate that the N-nutritional status of wheat affects major steps in the route of Zn from the growth medium to the grain, including its uptake, xylem transport and remobilization via phloem. Thus, N is a critical player in the uptake and accumulation of Zn in plants, which deserves special attention in biofortification of food crops with Zn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hidden hunger (also known as micronutrient deficiencies) remains highly prevalent worldwide, affecting over 2 billion people, with children and women at particular risk and resulting in serious health complications such as impairments in immune system and brain function The most common mineral micronutrient deficiencies occurring in human populations include zinc, iron, iodine and selenium. Interestingly, the Hidden Hunger problem is still persisting in human populations and even growing globally, despite a huge number of national and international projects, international aid programs and diverse educational and training programs aiming to address this problem over the past 40th to 50th years. Agricultural and food policies implemented so far have simply not succeeded in addressing the Hidden Hunger problem, despite using a large amount of funds and resources. None of these interventions have included fertilizer-based solutions (i.e., application of micronutrient containing fertilizers). The root source of the problem is soil which, however, receives no or very little attention by the policy and decision makers. Now, it is time to consider and integrate the fertilizer approach into ongoing regional and national human nutritional programs and policies to address the problem of Hidden Hunger. This presentation will focus on this global problem and provide a number of examples from different countries, demonstrating effective enrichment of food crops with micronutrients by using a fertilizer strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given that an effective combined foliar application of iodine (I), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) would be farmer friendly, compared to a separate spray of each micronutrient, for the simultaneous biofortification of grain crops, we compared effectiveness of foliar-applied potassium iodate (KIO3, 0.05%), sodium selenate (Na2SeO4, 0.0024%), and zinc sulfate (ZnSO4∙7H2O, 0.5%), separately and in their combination (as cocktail) for the micronutrient biofortification of four Basmati cultivars of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Foliar-applied, each micronutrient or their cocktail did not affect rice grain yield, but grain yield varied significantly among rice cultivars. Irrespective of foliar treatments, the brown rice of cv. Super Basmati and cv. Kisan Basmati had substantially higher concentration of micronutrients than cv. Basmati-515 and cv. Chenab Basmati. With foliar-applied KIO3, alone or in cocktail, the I concentration in brown rice increased from 12 to 186 µg kg−1. The average I concentration in brown rice with foliar-applied KIO3 or cocktail was 126 μg kg−1 in cv. Basmati-515, 160 μg kg−1 in cv. Chenab Basmati, 153 μg kg−1 in cv. Kisan Basmati, and 306 μg kg−1 in cv. Super Basmati. Selenium concentration in brown rice increased from 54 to 760 µg kg−1, with foliar-applied Na2SeO4 individually and in cocktail, respectively. The inherent Zn concentration in rice cultivars ranged between 14 and 19 mg kg−1 and increased by 5–6 mg Zn per kg grains by foliar application of ZnSO4∙7H2O and cocktail. The results also showed the existence of genotypic variation in response to foliar spray of micronutrients and demonstrated that a foliar-applied cocktail of I, Se, and Zn could be an effective strategy for the simultaneous biofortification of rice grains with these micronutrients to address the hidden hunger problem in human populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agronomic biofortification is one of the main strategies for alleviation of micronutrient deficiencies in human populations and promoting sustainable production of food and feed. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nitrogen (N)fertilization on biofortification of maize crop (Zea mays L.) with zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and selenium (Se) grown on a micronutrient deficient soil under greenhouse conditions. Factorial design experiment was set under greenhouse conditions. The experiment consisted of two levels of each N, Zn, Fe and Se. The levels for N were 125 and 250 mg N kg−1 soil; Zn were 1 and 5 mg Zn kg−1 soil; levels of Fe were 0 and 10 mg Fe kg−1 soil; levels of Se were 0 and 0.02 mg Se kg−1 soil. An additional experiment was also conducted to study the effect of the Zn form applied as a ZnO or ZnSO4 on shoot growth, shoot Zn concentration and total shoot Zn uptake per plant. Shoot Zn concentrations increased by increasing soil Zn application both with ZnSO4 and ZnO treatments, but the shoot Zn concentration and total Zn uptake were much greater with ZnSO4 than the ZnO application. Under given experimental conditions, increasing soil N supply improved shoot N concentration; but had little effect on shoot dry matter production. The concentrations of Zn and Fe in shoots were significantly increased by increasing N application. In case of total uptake of Zn and Fe, the positive effect of N nutrition was more pronounced. Although Se soil treatment had significant effect, N application showed no effect on Se concentration and accumulation in maize shoots. The obtained results show that N fertilization is an effective tool in improving the Zn and Fe status of silage maize and contribute to the better-quality feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is the most widespread micronutrient deficiency in crop plants and humans. Low intake of Zn through diet appears to be the major reason for the widespread prevalence of Zn deficiencies in human populations. Application of Zn fertilizer in soil having low Zn increased the grain yield in wheat up to 6.4-50.1%. However, soil Zn application increased the grain yield of rice only up to 7.2-14.8%. Soil having sufficient Zn had no or little effect on grain yield with soil Zn application. The application of foliar Zn with or without propiconazole resulted in significant increases in grain Zn irrespective of soil Zn status. Application of foliar Zn along with propiconazole at earing and milk stages proved beneficial in increasing grain Zn content in both rice and wheat. Hence agronomic biofortification is possible and could be considerably economical if used along with a fungicide depending upon appearance of a disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study was conducted to assess the role of increasing N supply in enrichment of whole grain and grain fractions, particularly the endosperm, with Zn and Fe in wheat. The endosperm is the most widely consumed part of wheat grain in many countries. Plants were grown in the greenhouse with different soil applications of N and Zn and with or without foliar Zn spray. Whole grain and grain fractions were analyzed for N, P, Zn and Fe. Increased N supply significantly enhanced the Zn and Fe concentrations in all grain fractions. In the case of high Zn supply, increasing N application enhanced the whole grain Zn concentration by up to 50% and the endosperm Zn by over 80%. Depending on foliar Zn supply, high N elevated the endosperm Fe concentration up to 100%. High N also generally decreased the P/Zn and P/Fe molar ratios in whole grain and endosperm. The results demonstrate that improved N nutrition, especially when combined with foliar Zn treatment, is effective in increasing Zn and Fe of the whole grain and particularly the endosperm fraction, at least in the greenhouse, and might be a promising strategy for tackling micronutrient deficiencies in countries where white flour is extensively consumed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]