Title:Micronutrient Biofortification in Rice through New Breeding Techniques (NBTs): Bangladesh Perspective
Volume: 2
Author(s): Bishajit Sarkar, Fayza Akter, Fatema T. Johora, Md. Asad Ullah and Abdullah Mohammad Shohael*
Affiliation:
- Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342,Bangladesh
Keywords:
Biofortification, genome editing, iron, zinc, micronutrient, rice, vitamin-a.
Abstract: Micronutrient deficiencies can cause serious health issues in developing countries such
as most of the Asian and African countries, where millions of people are already suffering from inadequate
micronutrient intake. In Bangladesh, micronutrient deficiency is found to be severe due to
low income, food habits, and rice-based staple food consumption (rice has an insufficiency of different
types of vitamins and minerals). To prevent micronutrient malnutrition, supplementation has
been employed but failed to reach the goal so far. Agronomic and genetic biofortification has the
potential to address micronutrient deficiencies. Biofortification in rice grain is a convenient and affordable
way to supply the desired micronutrients. The development of micronutrient-rich popular
rice cultivars through conventional breeding is currently being harnessed to increase their micronutrient
contents. However, conventional breeding faces a lot of issues and to overcome these hurdles,
genetic engineering and genome editing have emerged as promising tools of micronutrient biofortification
in rice.. The authors conducted the research of relevant literature in order to explore
the potential strategies, information, and requirements for this review. The sources, functions, and
requirements of iron, zinc, vitamin-A, vitamin-B1, vitamin-B9, and betanin in rice and their biofortification
through conventional breeding, genetic engineering, and genome editing including their
promises and hindrances, have been highlighted in this study. New breeding techniques are timely
alternatives for developing nutrient-rich rice cultivars to eliminate hidden hunger and poverty in
Bangladesh.
