Biofortification of grain legumes

Raatz, Bodo. (2018). Biofortification of grain legumes. In: Sivasankar, S., Bergvinson, D., Gaur, O., Kumar, S., Beebe, S. (ed.), Achieving sustainable cultivation of grain legumes Volume 1: Adavances in breeding and cultivation technique, Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 2018, ISBN 9781786761361. (Burleigh Dodds Series in Agricultural Science)

Micronutrient malnutrition (MNM) is one of the world’s major health threats. Fe and Zn deficiencies affect more than a third of the world’s population, most severely women and children. Biofortified legume crops are being developed with higher levels of bioavailable Fe and Zn to alleviate MNM and improve the nutritional status of affected populations. In this chapter, we review the genetic variability of Fe and Zn content in many legume crops, and show how this is being used to guide breeding efforts through both transgenic approaches and agronomic management. We also consider the importance of factors that influence the bioavailability of microminerals. We review current breeding activities and releases, and so demonstrate an active research field, with progress in all stages of development.