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Review
. 2017 Jan 17:7:2028.
doi: 10.3389/fpls.2016.02028. eCollection 2016.

Calcium Biofortification: Three Pronged Molecular Approaches for Dissecting Complex Trait of Calcium Nutrition in Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana) for Devising Strategies of Enrichment of Food Crops

Divya Sharma  1 , Gautam Jamra  1 , Uma M Singh  2 , Salej Sood  3 , Anil Kumar  1
Affiliations
Review

Calcium Biofortification: Three Pronged Molecular Approaches for Dissecting Complex Trait of Calcium Nutrition in Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana) for Devising Strategies of Enrichment of Food Crops

Divya Sharma et al. Front Plant Sci. .

Abstract

Calcium is an essential macronutrient for plants and animals and plays an indispensable role in structure and signaling. Low dietary intake of calcium in humans has been epidemiologically linked to various diseases which can have serious health consequences over time. Major staple food-grains are poor source of calcium, however, finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.], an orphan crop has an immense potential as a nutritional security crop due to its exceptionally high calcium content. Understanding the existing genetic variation as well as molecular mechanisms underlying the uptake, transport, accumulation of calcium ions (Ca2+) in grains is of utmost importance for development of calcium bio-fortified crops. In this review, we have discussed molecular mechanisms involved in calcium accumulation and transport thoroughly, emphasized the role of molecular breeding, functional genomics and transgenic approaches to understand the intricate mechanism of calcium nutrition in finger millet. The objective is to provide a comprehensive up to date account of molecular mechanisms regulating calcium nutrition and highlight the significance of bio-fortification through identification of potential candidate genes and regulatory elements from finger millet to alleviate calcium malnutrition. Hence, finger millet could be used as a model system for explaining the mechanism of elevated calcium (Ca2+) accumulation in its grains and could pave way for development of nutraceuticals or designer crops.

Keywords: bioavailability; biofortification; calcium; finger millet; functional genomics; molecular breeding; transgenics.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Crop Biofortification approaches: Agronomic and Genetic Biofortification strategies aiming to increase the bioavailability and accumulation of micronutrients in the edible tissues of crops.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Depiction of the role of the potential transporters and their regulatory genes during translocation of calcium (Ca2+) from the rhizosphere by the (1) root and root hair and translocation. Along with the xylem stream through (2) stem, distribution to the (3) leaves and phloem loading for movement into the (4) flag leaf and (5) developing spike (6). The up (↑) and down (↓) regulation of these genes are given in the sketch diagram (Adapted from Mirza et al., 2014).
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Hypothetical model of Ca2+ transport in seed (Adapted from Kumar et al., 2014).
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
A hypothetical model showing the possible mechanism of calcium accumulation in various stages of cereal grains development. S1 (booting), S2 (spike emergence), S3 (pollination), S4 (Grain filling or milky) and S5 (seed maturation). (Adapted from Goel et al., 2012).
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Tripartite molecular interactions map using system biology graphical notation (SBGN) of the calcium exchangers and sensors in different tissues [CBL-4-CIPK24_CaX1 (Vegetative tissue), CBL-10-CIPK24-CaX1; CBL10-CIPK24-CaX3 (Vegetative tissue or developing spikes)] involved in the regulation of calcium transport and accumulation in finger millet (constructed by CellDesigner4.4).
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Schematic representation of genomics and molecular breeding approaches for developing calcium biofortified finger millet.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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