Plant breeding: a long-term strategy for the control of zinc deficiency in vulnerable populations

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 low-cost and sustainable contribution to reducing micronutrient deficiencies in humans, and may have important spinoff effects for increasin...

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Main Authors: Ruel, Marie T., Bouis, Howarth E.
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 1997
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/161171
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author Ruel, Marie T.
Bouis, Howarth E.
author_browse Bouis, Howarth E.
Ruel, Marie T.
author_facet Ruel, Marie T.
Bouis, Howarth E.
author_sort Ruel, Marie T.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description 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 low-cost and sustainable contribution to reducing micronutrient deficiencies in humans, and may have important spinoff effects for increasing farm productivity in developing countries in an environmentally beneficial way. This paper describes ongoing plant breeding research that could increase the intake of bioavailable zinc from food staple crops among vulnerable populations in developing countries. The three most promising plant breeding strategies to achieve this goal are (1) increasing the concentration of zinc in the plant, (2) reducing the amount of phytic acid (a strong inhibitor of zinc absorption), and (3) raising the levels of sulfur-containing amino acids (which are thought to promote zinc absorption). 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 impact on human zinc nutrition.
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spelling CGSpace1611712025-11-06T05:17:12Z Plant breeding: a long-term strategy for the control of zinc deficiency in vulnerable populations Ruel, Marie T. Bouis, Howarth E. human nutrition mineral nutrients plant breeding 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 low-cost and sustainable contribution to reducing micronutrient deficiencies in humans, and may have important spinoff effects for increasing farm productivity in developing countries in an environmentally beneficial way. This paper describes ongoing plant breeding research that could increase the intake of bioavailable zinc from food staple crops among vulnerable populations in developing countries. The three most promising plant breeding strategies to achieve this goal are (1) increasing the concentration of zinc in the plant, (2) reducing the amount of phytic acid (a strong inhibitor of zinc absorption), and (3) raising the levels of sulfur-containing amino acids (which are thought to promote zinc absorption). 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 impact on human zinc nutrition. 1997 2024-11-21T09:53:56Z 2024-11-21T09:53:56Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/161171 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Ruel, Marie T.; Bouis, Howarth E. 1997. Plant breeding;a long-term strategy for the control of zinc deficiency in vulnerable populations. FCND Discussion Paper 30. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/161171
spellingShingle human nutrition
mineral nutrients
plant breeding
Ruel, Marie T.
Bouis, Howarth E.
Plant breeding: a long-term strategy for the control of zinc deficiency in vulnerable populations
title Plant breeding: a long-term strategy for the control of zinc deficiency in vulnerable populations
title_full Plant breeding: a long-term strategy for the control of zinc deficiency in vulnerable populations
title_fullStr Plant breeding: a long-term strategy for the control of zinc deficiency in vulnerable populations
title_full_unstemmed Plant breeding: a long-term strategy for the control of zinc deficiency in vulnerable populations
title_short Plant breeding: a long-term strategy for the control of zinc deficiency in vulnerable populations
title_sort plant breeding a long term strategy for the control of zinc deficiency in vulnerable populations
topic human nutrition
mineral nutrients
plant breeding
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/161171
work_keys_str_mv AT ruelmariet plantbreedingalongtermstrategyforthecontrolofzincdeficiencyinvulnerablepopulations
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