Abstract
Zinc biofortification of cereal grains is suggested for controlling widespread human Zn deficiency in developing countries. In present field trail, various Zn treatments [control, priming of seeds in 0.5% (w/v) Zn solution (seed priming), dipping of roots in 0.5% (w/v) Zn solution (root dipping), application of 20 kg Zn ha−1 (soil application), sprays of 0.25% (w/v) Zn each at tillering and heading stages (foliar application) and combination of soil + foliar Zn applications] were applied as ZnSO4·7H2O to rice grown under submerged conditions on a Zn deficient calcareous soil. Treatments significantly (P≤0.05) increased grain and straw yield; however, seed priming and root dipping increased paddy yield only by ≤5%. Increased grain weight also significantly increased grain phytate content. Whole grain Zn concentration increased from 22 (at control) to 29 mg kg−1 (at soil + foliar application).Zinc applications methods, especially soil + foliar application, decreased grain [phytate]:[Zn] ratio and increased estimated human Zn bioavailability in grains based on trivariate model of Zn absorption. Conclusively, soil + foliar Zn application is suitable for optimum paddy yield and agronomic Zn biofortification of rice grains. However, a limited increase in grain Zn concentration (7 mg kg−1) by Zn application suggested exploitation of molecular and genetic approaches in Zn biofortification programs.

Muhammad Imran, Shamsa Kanwal, Shahid Hussain, Tariq Aziz, Muhammad Aamer Maqsood. (2015) Efficacy Of Zinc Application Methods For Concentration And Estimated Bioavailability Of Zinc In Grains Of Rice Grown On A Calcareous Soil, , Volume-52, Issue-1.
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