Abstract
Considering the pervasive malnutrition caused by micronutrients, particularly of that arising from the deficiencies of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), the primary focus of research in pearl millet is on biofortifying the crop with these two minerals. Pearl millet is a highly cross-pollinated crop wherein open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) and hybrids are the only two distinct cultivar types. In view of the severe setback of Fe and Zn deficiencies in Asia and Africa where this crop is widely consumed, crop biofortification will hold a key role in attenuate this crisis. The present study included three OPVs to assess the magnitude of variability and test the effectiveness of fast-track selection and improvement in an intra-population for Fe and Zn densities. Large variability among the S1 progenies was observed in all three OPVs, where the variability for Fe is quadrupled (31-143 mg kg-1) and that for Zn is doubled (35-82 mg kg-1). Progeny selection was effective for Fe density in all three OPVs, with up to 21% selection response for Fe density, and up to 10% selection response in two OPVs for Zn density, as an associated trait. Selection for Fe density had no adverse effect on grain yield and other agronomic traits. These results suggest that effective selection for Fe density in OPVs and composites can be made for these micronutrients and selection for Fe density is highly associated with the improvement of Zn density as well. These genetic changes can be achieved without compromising on grain yield and agronomic traits. This indicate that the increased frequency of favorable alleles for Fe and Zn densities while maintaining the genetic potential of these agronomic traits. Such improved versions could serve as essentially derived varieties for immediate cultivation or later may serve as potential sources for the development of better inbreds. This fast-track approach is the result of direct selection favoring additive genetic effects because there is no chance for masking action and it circumvents two to three cycles of selection gains. Therefore, fast-track breeding is essential to produce biofortified breeding pipelines to address food-cum-nutritional security.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
S1 progenies in three open-pollinated pearl millet varieties varied widely in iron density.
- Taxon
- pearl millet
Cenchrus americanust0 - Material
- S1 progeniese0
- Outcome
- variability for Fee0
- Value
- 31-143 mg kg-1e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Large variability among the S1 progenies was observed in all three OPVs, where the variability for Fe is quadrupled (31-143 mg kg-1)”
t0“Pearl Millet”
Claim · model-written summary
S1 progenies in three open-pollinated pearl millet varieties varied widely in zinc density.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanust0
- Outcome
- Zne0
- Value
- 35-82 mg kg-1e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“and that for Zn is doubled (35-82 mg kg-1)”
t0“Pearl Millet”
Claim · model-written summary
Selecting pearl millet progeny raised grain iron density by up to 21% in all three OPVs.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanust0
- Treatment
- Progeny selectione0
- Outcome
- Fe densitye0
- Direction
- selection responsee0
- Value
- 21%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Progeny selection was effective for Fe density in all three OPVs, with up to 21% selection response for Fe density”
t0“Pearl Millet”
Claim · model-written summary
Selection raised zinc density by up to 10% in two pearl millet OPVs.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanust0
- Treatment
- selectione0
- Outcome
- Zn densitye0
- Direction
- selection responsee0
- Value
- 10%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“up to 10% selection response in two OPVs for Zn density, as an associated trait”
t0“Pearl Millet”
Claim · model-written summary
Selection for iron density had no adverse effect on pearl millet grain yield and other agronomic traits.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanust0
- Treatment
- Selection for Fe densitye0
- Outcome
- grain yield and other agronomic traitse0
- Direction
- no adverse effecte0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Selection for Fe density had no adverse effect on grain yield and other agronomic traits.”
t0“Pearl Millet”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors conclude that fast-track breeding can produce biofortified pearl millet breeding pipelines.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanust0
- Outcome
- biofortified breeding pipelinese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“fast-track breeding is essential to produce biofortified breeding pipelines to address food-cum-nutritional security.”
t0“Pearl Millet”
The same questions in other papers
iron atom · yield · Cenchrus americanus (pearl millet)Positive and negative results
6 papers in the same direction as this paper · 1 in the opposite direction
- no effect
- positive
- positive
4 papers more in this group
See all 8 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.