Ruel, M.T. and Bouis, H.E.
(1998)
Plant breeding: a long-term strategy for the control of zinc
deficiency in vulnerable populations1.
Am J Clin Nutr, 68 (2).
488S-494S.
Abstract
Because trace minerals are important not only for
human nutrition but for plant nutrition as well, plant breeding holds
great promise for making a significant, sustainable, low-cost contribution
to the reduction of micronutrient deficiencies in humans.
It may also have important spinoff effects for increasing farm productivity
in developing countries in an environmentally beneficial
way. This article describes ongoing plant breeding research that
could increase the intake of bioavailable zinc from food staple
crops in vulnerable populations in developing countries. The 3
most promising plant breeding strategies toward this goal are as
follows: 1) increasing the concentration of zinc, 2) reducing the
amount of phytic acid (a strong inhibitor of zinc absorption), and
3) raising the concentrations of sulfur-containing amino acids
(thought to promote zinc absorption) in the plant. The agronomic
advantages and disadvantages as well as the potential benefits and
limitations of each approach for human nutrition are described.
Research is currently underway to identify the optimal combination
of these approaches that will maximize the effect on human
zinc nutrition.
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