Association of Grain Iron and Zinc Content With Other Nutrients in Pearl Millet Germplasm, Breeding Lines, and Hybrids.

Micronutrient deficiency is most prevalent in developing regions of the world, including Africa and Southeast Asia where pearl millet ( L.) is a major crop. Increasing essential minerals in pearl millet through biofortification could reduce malnutrition caused by deficiency.

Nutritional Security in Drylands: Fast-Track Intra-Population Genetic Improvement for Grain Iron and Zinc Densities in Pearl Millet.

Considering the pervasive malnutrition caused by micronutrients, particularly those arising from the deficiencies of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), the primary focus of research in pearl millet is on biofortifying the crop with these two minerals. Pearl millet is a highly cross-pollinated crop where open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) and hybrids are the two distinct cultivar types. In view of the severe deficiency of Fe and Zn in Asia and Africa where this crop is widely consumed, crop biofortification holds a key role in attenuating this crisis.