Breeding and deploying high-zinc maize in the tropics

High-zinc maize offers a promising solution to alleviate this micronutrient malnutrition, particularly in the Global South. Maize, as a C4 crop, shows potential in addressing declining zinc levels in the face of environmental stressors, but achieving optimal zinc concentrations in maize kernels requ...

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Autores principales: Boddupalli, Prasanna, Palacios Rojas, Natalia, San Vicente Garcia, Felix, Dhliwayo, Thanda, Menkir, Abebe, Ndhlela, Thokozile, Nair, Sudha, Zhang, Xuecai
Formato: Capítulo de libro
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Springer Cham 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178117
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author Boddupalli, Prasanna
Palacios Rojas, Natalia
San Vicente Garcia, Felix
Dhliwayo, Thanda
Menkir, Abebe
Ndhlela, Thokozile
Nair, Sudha
Zhang, Xuecai
author_browse Boddupalli, Prasanna
Dhliwayo, Thanda
Menkir, Abebe
Nair, Sudha
Ndhlela, Thokozile
Palacios Rojas, Natalia
San Vicente Garcia, Felix
Zhang, Xuecai
author_facet Boddupalli, Prasanna
Palacios Rojas, Natalia
San Vicente Garcia, Felix
Dhliwayo, Thanda
Menkir, Abebe
Ndhlela, Thokozile
Nair, Sudha
Zhang, Xuecai
author_sort Boddupalli, Prasanna
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description High-zinc maize offers a promising solution to alleviate this micronutrient malnutrition, particularly in the Global South. Maize, as a C4 crop, shows potential in addressing declining zinc levels in the face of environmental stressors, but achieving optimal zinc concentrations in maize kernels requires targeted breeding efforts. This chapter highlights the genetic variability of kernel zinc concentration in maize germplasm, considering the complexities of trait inheritance and the influence of genotype-environment interactions. Conventional breeding strategies, alongside modern tools such as QTL mapping, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and genomic selection (GS), have been instrumental in developing high-zinc varieties. Data from efforts in Latin America and Africa reveal that these varieties can perform competitively in terms of yield and agronomic traits. The bioavailability of zinc in biofortified maize is discussed, alongside the nutritional benefits it provides, particularly in traditional maize-based diets. Key challenges, such as potential yield penalties and the need for consumer acceptance, are explored, with emphasis on combining nutritional improvement with essential agronomic traits like disease resistance and yield stability. The broader opportunities for scaling high-zinc maize are also considered, underscoring the role of collaborative efforts and public-private partnerships in ensuring the sustainable adoption of these nutritionally enhanced varieties.
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spelling CGSpace1781172025-11-25T02:08:04Z Breeding and deploying high-zinc maize in the tropics Boddupalli, Prasanna Palacios Rojas, Natalia San Vicente Garcia, Felix Dhliwayo, Thanda Menkir, Abebe Ndhlela, Thokozile Nair, Sudha Zhang, Xuecai breeding zinc maize tropical zones genome-wide association studies marker-assisted selection High-zinc maize offers a promising solution to alleviate this micronutrient malnutrition, particularly in the Global South. Maize, as a C4 crop, shows potential in addressing declining zinc levels in the face of environmental stressors, but achieving optimal zinc concentrations in maize kernels requires targeted breeding efforts. This chapter highlights the genetic variability of kernel zinc concentration in maize germplasm, considering the complexities of trait inheritance and the influence of genotype-environment interactions. Conventional breeding strategies, alongside modern tools such as QTL mapping, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and genomic selection (GS), have been instrumental in developing high-zinc varieties. Data from efforts in Latin America and Africa reveal that these varieties can perform competitively in terms of yield and agronomic traits. The bioavailability of zinc in biofortified maize is discussed, alongside the nutritional benefits it provides, particularly in traditional maize-based diets. Key challenges, such as potential yield penalties and the need for consumer acceptance, are explored, with emphasis on combining nutritional improvement with essential agronomic traits like disease resistance and yield stability. The broader opportunities for scaling high-zinc maize are also considered, underscoring the role of collaborative efforts and public-private partnerships in ensuring the sustainable adoption of these nutritionally enhanced varieties. 2025-05-24 2025-11-24T15:14:18Z 2025-11-24T15:14:18Z Book Chapter https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178117 en Open Access application/pdf Springer Cham Boddupalli, P., Palacios-Rojas, N., San Vicente Garcia, F. M., Dhliwayo, T., Menkir, A., Ndhlela, T., Nair, S. K., & Zhang, X. (2025). Breeding and deploying high-zinc maize in the tropics. In: Govindaraj, M., Govindan, V., & Palacios, N. (Eds.), Breeding Zinc Crops for Better Human Health (pp. 41–64). Springer Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-84342-6_3
spellingShingle breeding
zinc
maize
tropical zones
genome-wide association studies
marker-assisted selection
Boddupalli, Prasanna
Palacios Rojas, Natalia
San Vicente Garcia, Felix
Dhliwayo, Thanda
Menkir, Abebe
Ndhlela, Thokozile
Nair, Sudha
Zhang, Xuecai
Breeding and deploying high-zinc maize in the tropics
title Breeding and deploying high-zinc maize in the tropics
title_full Breeding and deploying high-zinc maize in the tropics
title_fullStr Breeding and deploying high-zinc maize in the tropics
title_full_unstemmed Breeding and deploying high-zinc maize in the tropics
title_short Breeding and deploying high-zinc maize in the tropics
title_sort breeding and deploying high zinc maize in the tropics
topic breeding
zinc
maize
tropical zones
genome-wide association studies
marker-assisted selection
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178117
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