Biofortification: A solution to malnutrition

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of Zn application methods on growth and yield parameters, Zn concentrations and Zn bioavailability in rice grains of two genotypes (NIA-Mehran and Shandar). The study revealed that zinc application had a positive impact on zinc bioavailability for humans by reducing phytic acid concentrations and affecting zinc bioavailability biomarkers in both polished and brown rice. Specifically, zinc application increased the number of productive tillers by 14%, grains per panicle by 88%, thousand grains weight by 10%, and grain yield by 30%. Zinc application also substantially increased zinc concentration by 244% and decreased phytic acid concentration by 44%.

Furthermore, it improved zinc bioavailability by reducing phytic acid to zinc molar ratios by 79% in polished rice and 69% in brown rice, while enhancing total absorbed zinc by 341% in polished rice and 217% in brown rice. Among the zinc treatments, foliar applications (twice or thrice) showed more significant improvements in grain production, zinc concentration, and bioavailability in both brown and polished rice compared to soil zinc application.

The study found that applying zinc three times via foliar application significantly improved productive tillers, grains per panicle, thousand grain weight, grain yield, zinc concentrations, and total daily absorbed zinc, while reducing phytic acid concentrations and its ratio to zinc. It was recommended that this method be used for NIA-Mehran and Shandar rice varieties to enhance yield, zinc concentration, and bioavailability. Additionally, the study suggests humans switch from polished rice to brown rice, which contains higher zinc and better bioavailability, to help combat widespread zinc deficiency.