Author
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GRAHAM, ROBIN - UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE |
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Welch, Ross |
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Submitted to: Trace Elements in Man and Animals International Symposium
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 1/5/1997 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: As a food-based approach to addressing micronutrient malnutrition in much of the human population, we have studied the possibility of breeding to improve plant staples as sources of micronutrients for humans. The paper defines the criteria for a successful program and describes genetic variation in iron, zinc and beta-carotene found in wheat, rice, maize, beans and cassava. In a 1% sample of the cereal germplasm collections, iro and zinc varied up to four-fold from the lowest to the highest, the best being about twice that of current high-yielding varieties. Grain iron and zinc are neutral or positively correlated with yield, and high yielding, high density types exist. The beta-carotene content of maize and cassava varies from nil to high enough to supply the needs of people if such high density types were widely grown and used. The main debate is whether the extra iron and zinc supplied by superior types will be bioavailable. There is some evidence that in malnourished individuals the availability of high density types will be sufficient to make a major impact on health; moreover, economic analysis indicates that the cost effectiveness of this approach is much greater than existing strategies which it is designed to complement in the early decades of the next century. |
