Iodine biofortification in tomato

Iodine is an essential element in the human diet, and iodine deficiency is a significant health problem. No attempts to increase iodine content in plant‐derived food (biofortification) have so far been particularly effective. We studied iodine uptake in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) to evaluate whether it is possible to increase the iodine concentration in its fruits. Iodine translocation and storage inside tomato tissues were studied using radioactive iodine. Potassium iodide was also supplied at different concentrations to tomato plants to evaluate the resulting iodide concentration both in the vegetative tissues and the fruits. The results indicate that iodine was taken up better when supplied to the roots using hydroponically grown plants. However, a considerable amount of iodine was also stored after leaf treatment, suggesting that iodine transport through phloem also occurred. We found that tomato plants can tolerate high levels of iodine, stored both in the vegetative tissues and fruits at concentrations that are more than sufficient for the human diet. We conclude that tomato is an excellent crop for iodine‐biofortification programs.     

Use of selenium fertilizers for production of Se‐enriched Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus): Effect on Se concentration and plant productivity

Due to selenium (Se) deficiency, Se fortification of food and feed is applied in many countries. Therefore, potential use of Se‐enriched kenaf was investigated based on its Se accumulation, its potential to transform accumulated Se to other Se species, and effect of Se accumulation on its growth. Kenaf was grown with different levels of two Se fertilizers (selenite and selenate) at concentrations ranging from 0 to 4 mg Se (kg soil)^–1. Total Se concentrations in the plants grown on selenate‐treated soil amounted to (1019 ± 136) mg Se (kg dry weight)^–1 and were much higher compared to plants grown on selenite‐treated soil. Identified Se species were selenite, selenate, Se‐methionine, and Se‐cystine. Biomass yield, net photosynthesis, and chlorophyll index of the plants decreased when plants were grown on soils treated with high doses of selenate.     

Identification of introgression lines of Oryza glaberrima Steud. with high mineral content in grains

Mineral concentrations in cereals are crucial for human health, especially for people who consume cereals as a subsistence diet. Although rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of most important staple crops in the world, starch constitutes a large portion of its grains, and mineral concentrations are lower than in other staple crops. One solution is the improvement of mineral concentrations in rice grains through biofortification, and this approach requires investigation of genetic resources that confer high mineral concentrations to rice grains. In the present study, we performed 2 years of field experiments, in 2012 and 2013, and determined sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), boron (B), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and molybdenum (Mo) concentrations in the rice grains of 40 introgression lines derived from a cross between a japonica cultivar, Taichung 65 (T65), and African rice, Oryza glaberrima Steud. Substantial variation in mineral concentrations was observed among the 40 introgression lines. We selected several elite lines that had significantly higher concentrations of minerals, including Fe, Cu, Zn, Mo, Mg, P and Ca than the cultivated rice T65. These lines could be novel potential materials for breeding programs for biofortification and provide us with positional information for the candidate loci in the O. glaberrima genome responsible for high mineral concentrations in rice grains.     

Micronutrient enrichment mediated by plant-microbe interactions and rice cultivation practices

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different plant growth promoting microorganisms (PGPM) on micronutrient enrichment of rice crops grown under conventional (flooded) and SRI (System of Rice Intensification) practices. Significant differences were recorded among treatments and cultivation practices in terms of soil microbial activity reflected in enhanced nutrient uptake, enzyme activity, and yield. The Anabaena-based biofilm inoculants were particularly superior under both methods of cultivation, leading to 13–46% enhancement of iron and 15-41% enhancement of zinc in rice grains over uninoculated controls. SRI was found to be superior in terms of enhancing the concentration of zinc, copper, iron, and manganese (Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn), particularly in grains, and significant in increasing the activity of defense- and pathogenesis- related enzymes and yield parameters. This study illustrates the utility of cyanobacteria-based inoculants for both methods of rice cultivation and their significant interactions with the plant, leading to micronutrient enrichment of rice grains. Such formulations can complement the current biofortification strategies and help in combating the problems of malnutrition globally.     

Genetic improvement of wheat grain quality at CIMMYT

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) is the global leader in publicly-funded maize and wheat research and in farming systems based on these crops. CIMMYT leads the Global Wheat Program (GWP), which includes some of the largest wheat breeding programs in the world. The GWP has been successful in developing wheat germplasm that is used extensively worldwide. Wheat quality improvement is a central component of all the breeding efforts at CIMMYT and the Wheat Chemistry and Quality Laboratory represents an integral part of the breeding programs. Wheat quality is addressed at CIMMYT over the full range of this very wide and variable concept with milling, processing, end-use and nutritional quality targeted. Wheat progenitors and advanced lines developed by the breeders are assessed for diverse quality attributes, with the aim of identifying those that fulfill the requirements in terms of milling, processing, end-use and nutritional quality in different target regions. Significant research is conducted to make more efficient the integration of wheat quality traits in the breeding programs. The main topics being addressed are (1) methodologies to analyze grain quality traits, (2) genetic control and environmental effects on quality traits, (3) characterization of genetic resources for quality improvement, and (4) diversifying grain properties for novel uses.     

创新型农产品的产品特质对消费者支付意愿的影响——以作物营养强化大米为例

作物营养强化农产品作为一种创新型农产品,能够有效解决因微量营养素缺乏而带来的"隐性饥饿"(Hidden Hunger)问题。提高消费者支付意愿是推广作物营养强化农产品的关键环节。基于作物营养强化农产品的颜色特征和营养素类型的视角,建立消费者选择模型,运用准实验法,探讨颜色的改变和营养素类型对消费者支付意愿的影响。结果表明,颜色的改变会减少消费者对作物营养强化大米的支付意愿,消费者对促进型营养素强化大米的支付意愿显著高于预防型作物营养素强化大米。消费者的感知风险在颜色影响支付意愿的过程中起中介作用,感知收益在营养素类型对支付意愿的影响过程中起中介作用。基于此,为了让创新型农产品的推广产生更好的效果,建议开发过程中,赋予产品的特征要以消费者为导向;推广和宣传过程中,要基于消费者的认知规律,进行针对性的产品沟通;要防范消费者食品感知风险的泛化对创新型农产品的负面外溢。     

Zinc‐biofortified seeds improved seedling growth under zinc deficiency and drought stress in durum wheat

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.     

Response of common bean varieties to the magnesium application in the tropical soil

The appropriate supply of magnesium (Mg) to the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) according to the requirements of each variety increases the productivity and nutritional value of grains. However, there are few studies on soil's ability to provide the adequate amount of the nutrient and on the reaction of plants with different Mg concentrations. The present study analyzed the response of the common bean plant to soil fertility, grain yield (GY), shoot dry weight (SDW) yield, nutritional status and the response of physiological components of the plant to the concentrations of Mg applied to the tropical soil. Thus, an experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, in 5 × 4 factorial arrangement, with three replicates. The varieties BRS Estilo, IAPAR 81, BRS Ametista, IPR Campos Gerais (CG) and IPR Tangará were cultivated in an Ustoxix Quatzipsamment with five rates of Mg [0, 50, 100, and 200 mg kg^?1, source magnesium chloride (MgCl₂)]. The common bean varieties and the Mg rates significantly affected the soil chemical properties. Photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, intercellular concentration of carbon dioxide (CO₂), and total soluble sugars significantly correlated with common bean GY and SDW yield. The nutrient content in leaves and grains showed difference responses among the varieties. IAPAR 81 showed the highest rate of mobilization of nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, boron, copper and zinc (N, P, Mg, S, B, Cu, and Zn) for grains, being an important factor in studies of crop biofortification.     

不同外源硒对番茄的硒生物强化效果

【目的】比较土壤中施用不同量硒肥（亚硒酸盐和硒酸盐）对番茄生物量、不同部位硒含量及果实品质的影响,为生产优质的富硒番茄和开发其他富硒蔬菜品种提供参考。【方法】供试番茄品种为金美丽娜,采用盆栽试验,通过在土壤中拌施0.5,1,2和5 mg/kg亚硒酸钠和硒酸钠溶液对番茄进行硒生物强化,以不施用硒肥处理作为对照,测定不同处理成熟番茄的果实生物量、不同部位（果实、茎下部、茎上部、叶下部、叶上部和根）硒含量,以及果实品质参数（有机酸、可溶性糖组成及其含量,维生素C含量等）,比较2种硒肥对番茄的硒生物强化效果。【结果】与对照相比,土壤中施用2种外源硒均增加了番茄果实生物量。与对照相比,0.5~5 mg/kg外源硒均显著增加了番茄果实的硒含量（P＜0.05）,且当土壤中施用硒肥量相同时,硒酸钠处理番茄果实的硒含量极显著高于亚硒酸钠处理（P＜0.01）。各施硒处理番茄茎下部、茎上部、叶下部、叶上部和根中硒含量均显著高于对照（P＜0.05）,且这5个部位的硒含量均随外源施硒量的增加而显著增高（P＜0.05）。外源施用硒肥番茄果实中有机酸的组成（草酸、酒石酸、苹果酸、柠檬酸、琥珀酸）几乎没有变化,各处理番茄果实均以苹果酸和柠檬酸为主,但各有机酸组分含量变化较大。与对照相比,外源施0.5~2 mg/kg硒均可显著提高番茄果实中的果糖和葡萄糖含量。与对照相比,土壤中施用0.5~2 mg/kg亚硒酸钠和硒酸钠后,番茄果实总有机酸、总可溶性糖、维生素C 含量及糖酸比均显著升高（P＜0.05）。【结论】土壤中施入0.5~2 mg/kg硒酸钠既可确保硒富集效果,又能提高果实品质。基于人体健康的考虑,推荐以在土壤中施用0.5 mg/kg硒酸钠的方式进行番茄的硒生物强化。     

Low efficiency of Zn uptake and translocation in plants provide poor micronutrient enrichment in rice and soybean grains

Abstract

Recent research has shown the need for an in-depth knowledge of zinc biofortification of cereal and oilseed grains due to its importance to human nutrition. However, little is known about the Zn dynamics in plant–soil system. In this work, we evaluated the effect of soil-applied Zn on the absorption, translocation, and compartmentalization of Zn in rice (Oryza sativa L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) plants. The soil used in the greenhouse experiment was fertilized with zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) at rates of 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8?mg Zn kg^?1. The source of Zn was labeled by ⁶⁵Zn with specific activity of 185.5 kBq mg^?1 Zn. The amount of Zn derived from fertilizer and its use in each plants compartment was determined by direct method in isotopic calculations. Rice and soybean plants presented low efficiency in the absorption from soil-applied Zn. The accumulated Zn in the panicle, pod, and grains was not modified, due to its low translocation in the plant. The Zn uptake in rice plants was from 1.34 to 4.60?mg pot^?1 in shoots and just 0.81 to 1.43?mg pot^?1 translocated to panicles. Soybean plants presented Zn uptake between 2.36 and 4.68?mg pot^?1 in shoots, out of which 0.19 to 0.34?mg.pot^?1 and 0.48 to 0.57?mg pot^?1 translocated to grains and pods, respectively. The nutrient utilization from fertilizer was low, with mean values of 12 and 8.7% for rice and soybean plants, respectively. Soil-applied Zn showed low capacity for enriching rice panicle and soybean pod or grain probably due low Zn uptake and translocation.