Techniques for the Enrichment of Micronutrients in Crops through Biofortification: A Review
Noor-ul-Huda .
Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
Ambash Riaz
Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
Ali Abbas
Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
Shahid Raza *
Department of Biotechnology, University of South Asia, Lahore, Pakistan and Lahore Garrison University, Lahore, Pakistan
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Deficiency of micronutrients such as iron, zinc, selenium and vitamin A affect human health globally. This deficiency is being controlled by supplementation and nutrient fortification, however, new alternatives are needed to fulfill the optimum nutrient requirement especially in rural poor areas. Biofortification, enrichment of micronutrients in staple food by plant breeding, is an alternative which looks promising. Laboratory experiments show that biofortification is possible without damaging agronomic productivity. Analysis of predictive cost-benefit also support the benefits of biofortification and emphasize on its importance in the armamentarium for managing deficiency of micronutrient. The challenge to overcome is to convince consumer and producers to accept biofortified crops. This study focuses on the techniques that can be used to produced biofortified crops.
Keywords: Biofortified crops, iron, vitamin A, zinc