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Handbook of Food Fortification and Health pp 293–305Cite as

Iron and Zinc Enhancement in Rice Endosperm by Targeted and Synergistic Action of Genes

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Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

Abstract

Iron deficiency anemia and zinc deficiency are among the most recognized forms of micronutrient malnutrition in humans. Various food fortification approaches have been suggested, but not many proved useful mainly due to socioeconomic or biological reasons. Monotonous diets based on staple cereals are frequently associated with human micronutrient malnutrition. Cereal grains constituting the most important basis of human food are in fact a poor source of iron and zinc. Biofortification of cereal grains, such as rice, has therefore emerged as a promising strategy. However, the variability for most micronutrients is very low in the rice germplasm and this does not leave traditional breeding alone to be a valid option for rice biofortification in many circumstances. Complementing the breeding efforts, gene technology offers perspectives for efficiently improving iron and zinc content in rice grain to dietary significant levels for human nutrition. In this chapter, the biotechnology strategies used to date in order to improve rice for iron and zinc content and the genes controlling iron and zinc homeostasis are reviewed.

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Abbreviations

CGIAR:

Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research

FeSO4 :

Ferrous sulfate

Fe:

Iron

Zn:

Zinc

Mn:

Manganese

Co:

Cobalt

Cd:

Cadmium

Ni:

Nickel

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Acknowledgements

We thank ETH Zurich and Swiss State Secretariat for Education and Research for funding our research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Universitatsstrasse 2, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland

    Navreet K. Bhullar Ph.D., Kulaporn Boonyaves M.Sc., Meng Wang M.Sc. & Christof Sautter Ph.D.

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  1. Navreet K. Bhullar Ph.D.
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  2. Kulaporn Boonyaves M.Sc.
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  3. Meng Wang M.Sc.
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  4. Christof Sautter Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Navreet K. Bhullar Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences, School of Medicine, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  2. University Hospital Lewisham, Department of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Kings College Hospital, London, SM68SU, United Kingdom

    Rajaventhan Srirajaskanthan

  3. Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Street, London, W1W 6UW, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

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Bhullar, N.K., Boonyaves, K., Wang, M., Sautter, C. (2013). Iron and Zinc Enhancement in Rice Endosperm by Targeted and Synergistic Action of Genes. In: Preedy, V., Srirajaskanthan, R., Patel, V. (eds) Handbook of Food Fortification and Health. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7076-2_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7076-2_23

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