Search Results (24)

Rice is a staple food for over half of the world’s population, and it is grown in over 100 countries. Rice blast disease can cause 10% to 30% crop loss, enough to feed 60 million people. Breeding for resistance can help farmers avoid costly fungicides. This study assessed the relationship between rice blast disease and zinc or anthocyanin content in biofortified rice. Susceptibility to foliar and panicle blast was assessed in a rice panel which differed on grain zinc content and pigmentation. A rice panel (n = 23) was challenged with inoculum of two isolates of Magnaporthe oryzae in a screenhouse-based assay. The zinc content with foliar blast severity was analyzed in the leaves and grain of a subset of non-inoculated rice plants. The effect of foliar zinc supplementation on seedlings was assessed by varying levels of zinc fertilizer solution on four blast susceptible cultivars at 14 days after planting (DAP), followed by inoculation with the blast pathogen at 21 DAP. Foliar blast severity was scored on a 0–9 scale at 7 days after inoculation. The rice panel was scored for anthocyanin content, and the data were correlated with foliar blast severity. The panel was grown in the field, and panicle blast, grain yield and yield-related agronomic traits were measured. Significant differences were observed in foliar blast severity among the rice genotypes, with IRBLK-KA and IR96248-16-2-3-3-B having mean scores greater than 4, as well as BASMATI 370 (a popular aromatic variety), while the rest of the genotypes were resistant. Supplementation with foliar zinc led to a significant decrease in susceptibility. A positive correlation was observed between foliar and panicle blast. The Zn in the leaves was negatively correlated with foliar blast severity, and had a marginally positive correlation with panicle blast. There was no relationship between foliar blast severity and anthocyanin content. Grain yield had a negative correlation with panicle blast, but no correlation was observed between Zn in the grain and grain yield. This study shows that Zn biofortification in the grain may not enhance resistance to foliar and panicle blast. Furthermore, the zinc-biofortified genotypes were not agronomically superior to the contemporary rice varieties. There is a need to apply genomic selection to combine promising alleles into adapted rice genetic backgrounds. Full article

Background and aim: Cereals’ iron content is a major contributor to dietary iron intake in Europe and a potential for biofortification. A simulation of daily iron intake from wheat and rice over the next 20 years will be quantified. Methods: Food items, and energy and iron intake by age classes are estimated using the Italian dietary survey (IV SCAI). Iron intake and adequacy estimation trends were categorized in four scenarios compared to a baseline (basic scenario; only climate change effects): over wheat and rice biofortification effects (scenario 1); over the shift in whole wheat consumption of up to 50% of the total amount of wheat-based foods (scenario 2); over the shift in brown rice consumption up to 100% of the total amount of rice (scenario 3); over the cumulative effects of biofortifications and whole wheat and brown rice consumption (scenario 4). Results: Increasing the iron intake from wheat and rice biofortification and the shift in whole wheat consumption is similar and sufficient to recover the baseline iron depletion effect due to climate change. The shift in brown rice consumption produces a negligible increment in iron intake. The cumulative effects of the corrective actions considered in the scenarios can significantly reduce the iron intake inadequacy, despite not reaching the recommended levels. Conclusions: Corrective actions including biofortification and whole grain consumption are still far from ensuring the full recovery in children and females of fertile age as at-risk groups of iron deficiency. Further actions are needed considering other biofortified food sources, fortified foods, and/or dietary food diversification. Full article

Drought poses a significant threat to global food security, particularly impacting rice cultivation during the germination stage. In this study, a soil-based system that utilizes soil moisture content was used to simulate optimal and stress conditions to assess the effect of the specific seed priming protocols on germination. Eleven rice varieties, representative of indica and japonica subspecies, grown in different ecosystems and having diverse nutrient contents, were treated with water or solutions of either poly-gamma-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) or denatured γ-PGA. Collected data regarding germinability and stress indices revealed different drought sensitivity between japonica and indica subspecies and genotype-specific responses to priming. Particularly, γ-PGA improved germination of highly susceptible indica varieties whereas water soaking was more effective for the moderately sensitive japonica varieties. Integrative analyses evidenced differences between biofortified and non-biofortified rice under γ-PGA treatment, suggesting a possible correlation between γ-PGA efficacy and Zn/Fe seed content. These findings underline that priming strategies should be tailored based on genotype and therefore this factor should be always taken under consideration for future works. The current study provides relevant information for optimizing seed priming techniques to sustain the development of drought-resilient crops as a sustainable strategy to address agricultural resilience and safeguard food security amidst environmental challenges. Full article

Remote sensing data are powerful tools that contribute to sustainability and efficiency in crop management. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is widely recognized as one of the most important crops in terms of economic and social impact. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in providing valuable information regarding plant health and status with respect to two rice varieties (Ariete and Ceres) submitted to a biofortification workflow with two types of selenium (sodium selenate and sodium selenite). In this context, through the use of synchronized UAVs, the state of the culture was further assessed. As well, digital elevation models, water lines, slope classes/infiltration suitability, and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were considered. Additionally, leaf gas exchange measurements were conducted during the biofortification process and Se content in rice was quantified. The NDVI index ranged from 0.76 to 0.80, with no significant differences regarding control. The water drainage pattern following the artificial pattern created by grooves between plots was observed. Furthermore, selenite application up to 100 g Se.ha⁻¹ did not exhibit toxicity effects on the biofortified plants and presented grain enrichment of 16.09 µg g⁻¹ (Ariete) and 15.46 µg g⁻¹ (Ceres). In conclusion, precision agriculture techniques and the utilization of data from leaf gas exchanges allow for efficient monitoring of experimental field conditions and are highly useful tools in decision-making. Full article

Micronutrient deficiencies, particularly of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), in the diet contribute to health issues and hidden hunger. Enhancing the Fe and Zn content in globally staple food crops like rice is necessary to address food malnutrition. A Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) was conducted using 85 diverse rice accessions from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to identify genomic regions associated with grain Fe and Zn content. The Fe content ranged from 0.95 to 8.68 mg/100 g on a dry weight basis (dwb) while Zn content ranged from 0.87 to 3.8 mg/100 g (dwb). Using MLM and FarmCPU models, we found 10 significant SNPs out of which one SNP on chromosome 11 was associated with the variation in Fe content and one SNP on chromosome 4 was associated with the Zn content, and both were commonly detected by the two models. Candidate genes belonging to transcription regulator activities, including the bZIP family genes and MYB family genes, as well as transporter activities involved in Fe and Zn homeostasis were identified in the vicinity of the SNP markers and selected. The identified SNP markers hold promise for marker-assisted selection in rice breeding programs aimed at enhancing Fe and Zn content in rice. This study provides valuable insights into the genetic factors controlling Fe and Zn uptake and their transport and accumulation in rice, offering opportunities for developing biofortified rice varieties to combat malnutrition among rice consumers. Full article

Arsenic (As) and Cadmium (Cd) are toxic to rice plants. However, selenium (Se) has the potential to regulate As and Cd toxicity. The present study aimed to evaluate the co-exposure to As⁵⁺ and Se⁶⁺ species in two rice cultivars, BRS Pampa and EPAGRI 108. The plants were divided into six groups and cultivated until complete maturation of the grains, under greenhouse conditions. Regarding total As and inorganic As (i-As) accumulation in grains, the highest concentrations were found for BRS Pampa. For Se, EPAGRI 108 presented the highest concentration of inorganic and organic Se (i-Se and o-Se). The exposure assessments showed that Se biofortification can mitigate the As accumulation in rice and, consequently, the risk of As and Cd toxicity in grains for human consumption. The combined effect of As and Se in rice plants could represent an alternative to biofortify this food in a safe way and with a higher percentage of bioavailable Se. Although Se is able to mitigate As toxicity in rice plants, in the present study we showed that co-exposure in different cultivars under the same growing conditions may present different responses to As and Se exposure. Full article

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most economically and socially important cereals in the world. Several strategies such as biofortification have been developed in a way eco-friendly and sustainable to enhance crop productivity. This study implemented an agronomic itinerary in Ariete and Ceres rice varieties in experimental fields using the foliar application of selenium (Se) to increase rice nutritional value. At strategic phases of the plant’s development (at the end of booting, anthesis, and at the milky grain stage), they were sprayed with sodium selenate (Na₂SeO₄) and sodium selenite (Na₂SeO₃). In the first foliar application plants were sprayed with 500 g Se·ha⁻¹ and in the remaining two foliar applications were sprayed with 300 g Se·ha⁻¹. The effects of Se in the level of micro and macronutrients in brown grains, the localization of Se in these grains, and the subsequent quality parameters such as colorimetric characteristics and total protein were considered. After grain harvesting, the application of selenite showed the highest enrichment in all grain with levels reaching 17.06 µg g⁻¹ Se and 14.28 µg g⁻¹ Se in Ariete and Ceres varieties, respectively. In the Ceres and Ariete varieties, biofortification significantly affected the K and P contents. Regarding Ca, a clear trend prevailed suggesting that Se antagonizes the uptake of it, while for the remaining elements in general (except Mn) no significant differences were noted. Protein content increased with selenite treatment in the Ariete variety but not in Ceres. Therefore, it was possible to conclude, without compromising quality, that there was an increase in the nutritional content of Se in brown rice grain. Full article

Owing to the demand for the consumption of healthy extrudates, this study explored the infusion of neera (coconut inflorescence sap) honey in rice flour, corn flour and coconut milk residue blend-based extrudates. Neera honey, the concentrated coconut inflorescence sap, has numerous nutrients and a natural source of essential vitamins. Hence, the potential of neera honey as a biofortifying compound for the production of healthy extrudates was investigated. The rice and corn based extrudates supplemented with different concentration of neera honey have been prepared until the mix reaches 16 and 20% (w.b.) of feed moisture. Effect of addition of neera honey on the physical properties (expansion ratio, bulk density, specific length), functional properties (water absorption, water solubility, oil absorption), biochemical properties (total carbohydrates, total sugar, reducing sugar, phenolics, flavonoids, antioxidants), color parameters(L*, a*, b*), proximate compositions (moisture content, ash, protein, fat) and mineral profile of extrudates were recorded. Results suggest that addition of neera honey had a significant (p ˂ 0.05) impact on all the physico-chemical parameters evaluated. Incorporation of neera honey (feed moisture −20%) resulted in extrudates with less expansion, high bulk density and specific length, having high sugar, protein, phenolics, vitamin C and antioxidant activity. The combination of 60% rice flour + 25% corn flour +15% coconut milk residue samples infused with neera honey upto 16% feed moisture was found suitable for the preparation of nutritious extrudates based on functional characterization and minerals evaluation. Full article

Globally, micronutrient (iron and zinc) enriched rice has been a sustainable and cost-effective solution to overcome malnutrition or hidden hunger. Understanding the genetic basis and identifying the genomic regions for grain zinc (Zn) across diverse genetic backgrounds is an important step to develop biofortified rice varieties. In this case, an RIL population (306 RILs) obtained from a cross between the high-yielding rice variety MTU1010 and the high-zinc rice variety Ranbir Basmati was utilized to pinpoint the genomic region(s) and QTL(s) responsible for grain zinc (Zn) content. A total of 2746 SNP markers spanning a genetic distance of 2445 cM were employed for quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis, which resulted in the identification of 47 QTLs for mineral (Zn and Fe) and agronomic traits with 3.5–36.0% phenotypic variance explained (PVE) over the seasons. On Chr02, consistent QTLs for grain Zn polished (qZnPR.2.1) and Zn brown (qZnBR.2.2) were identified. On Chr09, two additional reliable QTLs for grain Zn brown (qZnBR.9.1 and qZnBR.9.2) were identified. The major-effect QTLs identified in this study were associated with few key genes related to Zn and Fe transporter activity. The genomic regions, candidate genes, and molecular markers associated with these major QTLs will be useful for genomic-assisted breeding for developing Zn-biofortified varieties. Full article

The demonstrations on improved rice production technology were organized in the Wanaparthy, Nagarkurnool, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, and Rangareddy districts of Telangana state of India. These demonstrations were organized under the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan of the Indian Institute of Rice Research during the wet season of 2021. The biofortified varieties assume great significance to achieve nutrition security. Hence, the zinc biofortified rice variety, DRR Dhan 48 was demonstrated on the 142 farmer fields and the economic impact of these demonstrations was assessed with the ‘difference in difference’ approach. The results revealed that the production of rice under demonstration plots was more profitable with a higher benefit-to-cost ratio (B:C; 1.9) compared to that of the control plots (1.4). The independent two-sample t-test revealed that the productivity at the control plots was not statistically different from that of the demonstrations plots (p = 0.112) before the project was implemented, however, with the intervention in the form of the demonstration of improved rice production technology, the productivity differed significantly (p = 0.000) for the control and the demonstration plots for the intervention year. The results of the difference in differences estimator revealed that there was a positive impact of demonstrations on the yield of the beneficiaries. The mean productivity of demonstration plots and control plots were 5.52 t/ha and 4.5 t/ha, respectively. The farmers had an additional yield advantage of 22.6% over the control plots. The results indicated that the adoption of an improved package of practices would enable harnessing higher productivity levels and bridging the yield gaps in similar agroecosystems. Also, the results suggest the practical significance of the popularization of biofortified rice varieties for food and nutritional security. Full article

Iron fortification of foods has always been a challenge. This is because iron fortification compounds vary widely in relative absorption; because many foods undergo unacceptable changes in color or flavor from the addition of iron; and because many of the iron-fortified foods contain potent inhibitors of iron absorption. These technical barriers have largely been overcome, and efficacious iron-fortified foods, that maintain or improve the iron status of women or children in long-term feeding studies, can be designed. Commercially fortified infant foods are efficacious, and other commercial iron-fortified foods targeted at women and children will provide a useful amount of iron provided the fortification level is adjusted according to the relative absorption of the iron compound. Technologies for the large-scale fortification of wheat and maize flour are also well established, and iron fortification of rice, using the recently developed extruded premix technique, is showing great promise. However, some important knowledge gaps still remain, and further research and development is needed in relation to iron (and iodine)-fortified salt and iron-fortified liquid milk. The usefulness of less-soluble iron compounds, such as ferrous fumarate, to fortify foods for infants and young children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) also needs further investigation. A more formidable barrier to efficacious iron-fortified food has been reported in recent years. This is the infection-initiated inflammation barrier, which inhibits iron absorption in response to infection. This barrier is particularly important in LMICs where infections such as malaria and HIV are widespread, and gastrointestinal infections are common due to poor quality water supplies and sanitation. Another source of inflammation in such countries is the high prevalence of obesity in women. Most countries in sub-Saharan Africa have high inflammation which not only decreases the efficacy of iron-fortified and iron-biofortified foods but complicates the monitoring of large-scale iron fortification programs. This is because iron deficiency anemia cannot be differentiated from the more prominent anemia of inflammation and because inflammation confounds the measurement of iron status. There is an urgent need to better quantify the impact of inflammation on the efficacy of iron-fortified foods. However, at present, in LMICs with high inflammation exposure, infection control, cleaner water, improved sanitation, and a decrease in obesity prevalence will undoubtedly have a greater impact on iron status and anemia than the iron fortification of foods. Full article

Micronutrient malnutrition is a global health challenge affecting almost half of the global population, causing poor physical and mental development of children and a wide range of illnesses. It is most prevalent in young girls, women, and pre-school children who are suffering particularly from the low consumption of vitamins and micronutrients. Given this global challenge, biofortification has proven to be a promising and economical approach to increase the concentration of essential micronutrients in edible portions of staple crops. Produce quality and micronutrient content can be further enhanced with the use of micronutrient fertilizers. Especially developing countries with a high percentage of malnourished populations are attracted to this integrated biofortification, combining modern agronomic interventions and genetic improvement of food crops. Consequently, maize, rice, wheat, beans, pearl millet, sweet potato, and cassava have all been biofortified with increased concentrations of Fe, Zn, or provitamin A in various developing countries. Today, there are several large-scale success stories in Africa and Asia that support the research and development of biofortified crops. In this review, we summarized what has been achieved to date and how edible crops can be further improved by integrating agronomic and genetic strategies to upgrade the nutritional status of children and adults around the world. Full article

Remote sensed data already have an important role in crop management. In fact, NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) has been use for staple crop management and monitorization since the 1980s, namely, in rice, wheat and maize. Accordingly, this study aimed to monitor, through precision agriculture, the development of a highly produced and consumed rice genotype in Portugal (Ariete variety), submitted to a selenium biofortification workflow. Rice biofortification was promoted during the production cycle, and assessed after two foliar applications with selenium (sprayed with 50 and 100 g Se·ha⁻¹ of sodium selenite). In this context, NDVI showed a high and identical value between control and biofortified plants, which indicated that the culture displayed a higher vigor and was in a healthy state of development despite foliar applications. Analyzes were further carried out for monitor the mobilization of photoassimilates, showing that plants did not demonstrate any negative impact on net photosynthesis and there was even a slight rise in the treatments. Additionally, to characterize the soil of the paddy rice field, some parameters were also analyzed, namely, organic matter, humidity, pH and electrical conductivity, being found that the parameters ranged between from 1.085–1.575%, 12.05–17.45%, 5.70–6.20, respectively, whereas the average conductivity was 223.4 µS cm⁻¹. Concerning to soil color, and considering the parameters L, a* and b* of the CIELab scale, significantly higher values in samples without humidity and without humidity and organic matter were found. In spite of the differences found, it is concluded that biofortification process did not affect any physiological parameters (net photosynthesis–Pn, stomatal conductance to water vapor—gs, transpiration rates—E and instantaneous water use efficiency—iWUE) in rice plants. Full article

Hidden hunger, or micronutrient deficiency, is a worldwide problem. Several approaches are employed to alleviate its effects (e.g., promoting diet diversity, use of dietary supplements, chemical fortification of processed food), and among these, biofortification is considered as one of the most cost-effective and highly sustainable. Rice is one of the best targets for biofortification since it is a staple food for almost half of the world’s population as a high-energy source but with low nutritional value. Multiple biofortified rice lines have been produced during the past decades, while few studies also reported modifications in germination behavior (in terms of enhanced or decreased germination percentage or speed). It is important to underline that rapid, uniform germination, and seedling establishment are essential prerequisites for crop productivity. Combining the two traits, biofortified, highly-nutritious seeds with improved germination behavior can be envisaged as a highly-desired target for rice breeding. To this purpose, information gathered from transcriptomics studies can reveal useful insights to unveil the molecular players governing both traits. The present review aims to provide an overview of transcriptomics studies applied at the crossroad between biofortification and seed germination, pointing out potential candidates for trait pyramiding. Full article

Using two rice genotypes as a test system (OP1505 and OP1509), the aim of this study was to develop an agronomic workflow for Se biofortification through foliar fertilization (with sodium selenate and sodium selenite). During the biofortification process, the state of the culture (slope, surface drainage, water lines and normalized differences vegetation index—NDVI), using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicles synchronized by global positioning system (GPS) was further assessed. It was found that after sowing, the water-drainage pattern became profoundly altered, following the artificial pattern, created by grooves between plots. NDVI values, compared to the control, did not show significant differences. These data were correlated with physiological monitoring during biofortification. Furthermore, it was found by eco-physiological data obtained through leaf gas exchanges, that the application of 300 g Se ha⁻¹ did not show any toxicity effects in the biofortified plants. In the context of innovation, it was concluded that the application of precision agriculture techniques in conjunction with leaf-gas exchange measurements allow for an efficient monitoring of the experimental field conditions and the development of the rice cycle during the implementation of the biofortification workflow. Full article