Author(s): Tajwar Izhar, Manigopa Chakraborty, DN Singh, Krishna Prasad, Ekhlaque Ahmad and Arvind Kumar

Abstract: Rice (Oryza sativa) is the most important cereal crop in the developing world and is the staple food of over half the world's population. Roughly one-half of the world population, including virtually all of East and Southeast Asia, is wholly dependent upon rice as a staple food. Though rice is the predominant source of energy, protein and micronutrients for more than 50% of the world population, it does not provide enough essential mineral nutrients to match human requirements. Mitigating hidden hunger with the biofortification of rice surely can be a beneficial strategy for people who consumes rice as a staple food. Significant enhancement in iron and zinc levels, as well as with other essential minerals and vitamins is achieved in rice biofortification by various approaches. Zinc and iron deficiency are recognized as major nutrient disorders in humans and its effects are more profound in children. Therefore, Zn and Fe deficiency is a chronic problem among human populations that have rice based diets. Raza Q. et al. (2020). Identification of the amount of genetic variability for Fe and Zn concentration in the germplasm is the initial step, then improving rice Fe and Zn concentration. Seventy entries were planted in three replications in Alpha lattice in GXE interaction trial at BAU, Research Farm under biofortified rice through Harvest Plus Challenge Programme under the collaboration of BAU and IRRI for developing high zinc and high iron rice varieties suitable for Eastern India including Jharkhand during kharif 2014. Micronutrient estimations were carried out using the XRF technology and cross checked with AAS/ICP in selected entries especially those that are highs for iron/zinc facilitated by Harvest Plus-ICRISAT. The entry no. 22 (SAPONYO), Fe 7.7 ppm and Zinc 20.7 ppm recorded maximum yield (38.14 q/ha) followed by entry no. 20 (PORA MEUNYA) Fe 7.7 ppm and zinc 22.7 ppm which yielded 33.45 q/ha. Consequently, new genetic and management strategies need to be developed to minimize Iron and Zn deficiency for people whose staple diet is rice and emphasis should be being given to nutritional aspects since micronutrient deficiency, especially of Zn and Fe, has become a global issue.

DOI: 10.33545/26174693.2024.v8.i4e.995