Genes make wheat more nutritious

Scientists have found a way to increase protein, zinc and iron in wheat, an achievement that can help bring more nutritious food to millions of people around the world.

(Photo: AFP) A team of researchers led by researcher Jorge Dubcovsky of the University of California at Davis identified a gene in wild wheat that increases the nutrient content of the grain. This gene became inactive for reasons unknown during the cultivation of human wheat.

Writing in Science magazine on Thursday, the researchers said they used traditional breeding methods to introduce the gene into a variety of domesticated wheat, increasing protein, zinc and iron content in the grain. this cereal . The related wild plant known as the wild wheat with beard at the head of the grain, the primitive form of some domesticated wheat.

Wheat represents one of the major crops that feed people around the world, providing about 20% of all calories absorbed. The World Health Organization has reported that 2 billion or more people absorb too little zinc and iron in their diet, and more than 160 million children under 5 years of age lack the necessary protein.

Dubcovsky said in an interview: ' We can actually produce wheat with more protein, zinc and iron. So if it is grown in a developing country or used as a food aid, it will actually provide more than necessary where needed. '

The team includes scientists from the US Department of Agriculture and Haifa University in Israel. Dubcovsky said when making wheat more nutritious, researchers did not change its taste. He said: ' We will not change the composition or anything very special in the grain. '

Researcher Jorge Dubcovsky
(Photo: Ucdavis.edu)

Dubcovsky confided: ' I don't think a simple step like this will solve world hunger. I'm not that naive. But I believe it is on the right track. '

This gene makes the seed grow faster even though it enhances its small amount of protein and nutrients by 10-15% in wheat pasta and bread made by observers. look up.

Dubcovsky said: ' What this gene does is make better use of what is available in the plant, rather than leaving protein, zinc and iron in the straw, we have added some of those substances to the grain. '

Annual wheat production is estimated to be 620 tons worldwide. Scientists say the varieties of wheat they bred are not genetically modified, which could help them become commercially acceptable.

Dubcovsky said: 'We don't do that by changing genes. Ordinary wheat is perfectly bred with wild wheat. So we only bred it after normal breeding. '

Dubcovsky is leading a group of 20 public wheat breeding programs called the Wheat Combine Plan in Agriculture.

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