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Review
. 2022 Jul 12:9:826131.
doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.826131. eCollection 2022.

Wheat Biofortification: Utilizing Natural Genetic Diversity, Genome-Wide Association Mapping, Genomic Selection, and Genome Editing Technologies

Om Prakash Gupta  1 , Amit Kumar Singh  2 , Archana Singh  3 , Gyanendra Pratap Singh  1 , Kailash C Bansal  4 , Swapan K Datta  5
Affiliations
Review

Wheat Biofortification: Utilizing Natural Genetic Diversity, Genome-Wide Association Mapping, Genomic Selection, and Genome Editing Technologies

Om Prakash Gupta et al. Front Nutr. .

Abstract

Alleviating micronutrients associated problems in children below five years and women of childbearing age, remains a significant challenge, especially in resource-poor nations. One of the most important staple food crops, wheat attracts the highest global research priority for micronutrient (Fe, Zn, Se, and Ca) biofortification. Wild relatives and cultivated species of wheat possess significant natural genetic variability for these micronutrients, which has successfully been utilized for breeding micronutrient dense wheat varieties. This has enabled the release of 40 biofortified wheat cultivars for commercial cultivation in different countries, including India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bolivia, Mexico and Nepal. In this review, we have systematically analyzed the current understanding of availability and utilization of natural genetic variations for grain micronutrients among cultivated and wild relatives, QTLs/genes and different genomic regions regulating the accumulation of micronutrients, and the status of micronutrient biofortified wheat varieties released for commercial cultivation across the globe. In addition, we have also discussed the potential implications of emerging technologies such as genome editing to improve the micronutrient content and their bioavailability in wheat.

Keywords: QTLs; genome editing; hidden hunger; micronutrients; phytate.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Scheme for integration of omics and genomic selection approaches for accelerating improvement of biofortification traits in wheat.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Schematic representation of conventional (A) genetic engineering (B) and genome editing (C) approaches in wheat for targeted biofortifcation of micronutrients. Genetic engineering and genome editing approaches in combination with conventional breeding offers simultaneous incorporation of multi-nutrient (minerals and vitamins) traits along with improved physiological and agronomic features.
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