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Enhancing Nutritional Quality in Crops Via Genomics Approaches

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Genomics of Plant Genetic Resources

Abstract

Micronutrient malnutrition—also known as hidden hunger—is a growing public health concern that affects especially women and children in the developing world. Worldwide, at least 2 billion people suffer from vitamin A, iron, and zinc deficiencies. Here we review recent advances in the application of genomic approaches for biofortification of staple crops to enhance their nutritional quality and thus reduce ‘hidden hunger’. The application of genomic tools such as marker-assisted selection in conventional breeding or genetic modification offers sustainable and cost-effective ways to provide essential micronutrients (here provitamin A or iron) to people in developing countries. To maximize the benefits of genomic approaches for biofortification, we need to extend our understanding of the genetic control mechanisms and relative contribution from different rate-limiting steps for both provitamin A and iron accumulation in edible plant parts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. HarvestPlus, c/o CIAT, 6713, Cali, Colombia

    Meike S. Andersson & Wolfgang H. Pfeiffer

  2. CIAT, 6713, Cali, Colombia

    Joe Tohme

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  1. Meike S. Andersson
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  2. Wolfgang H. Pfeiffer
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Correspondence to Joe Tohme .

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  1. Agricultural Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Roberto Tuberosa

  2. Genebank, IPK, Gatersleben, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany

    Andreas Graner

  3. Bioversity International, Rome, Italy

    Emile Frison

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Andersson, M., Pfeiffer, W., Tohme, J. (2014). Enhancing Nutritional Quality in Crops Via Genomics Approaches. In: Tuberosa, R., Graner, A., Frison, E. (eds) Genomics of Plant Genetic Resources. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7575-6_17

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