Malnutrition and Biofortification of Iron in pulses

 Today world’s population is increasing rapidly. For huge population, we required more food to fulfil the needs. Our basic diet lacks those important components which are required by our body for normal functioning. About 2 billion people are suffering from iron or zinc deficiency or suffering from another (multiple) micronutrients deficiency. Deficiency of nutrients in our diet is one the biggest problem worldwide. Micronutrient deficiency affected two billion individuals, or one out of three peoples globally. About two billion people across the globe had been affected by micronutrient deficiency which is one of the major problems worldwide is known as “hidden hunger”.  Nutrients are those important units which plays very important role in the life of plants and animals. Lack of nutrients affect the growth and metabolic activity of plants and other living organisms. About 60% of total population is suffering from deficiency of iron (Fe).

Today malnutrition is a biggest threat to our population and victims are specially children. Infection and parasites affect micronutrient impairment and increase the risk of malnutrition while malnutrition also make people susceptible to diseases.  Malnutrition is the deficiency of micronutrient or other important compounds which played a very important function in human’s body like iron is central part hemoglobin. Peoples are also deficient in iodine, vitamins A and Iron primarily. Mungbean crop is cheap source of protein and have more digestibility rate. So, the requirement of protein can be fulfilled by mung bean. In Pakistan people lack balance diet having all the essential minerals. It can be fulfilled by Mungbean because its seed contain 25% protein, 1-1.5% fat and 65% carbohydrates. The amount of pulses which is required by human body for normal daily function is 45 g capita^-1 day^-1 but in Bangladesh is 14.30 g capita^-1 day^-1.

          Due to its high nutritional value and protein content, its production is increasing steadily. Mungbean contains 51% carbohydrates, 24-26% protein, 4% minerals and 3% vitamins. It is the source of getting nutritional food for the poor people. As the population is simultaneously increasing it is difficult to manage the requirement of food for diversified populates. Its protein contents are good and have better digestibility than other pulses. So that today people are focusing on buying food which helps them to ample their nutritional requirements. Due to its high nutritive value, 2016 was named as international year of pulses by the 68^th assembly of UN.

 

 

Biofortification is the process of increasing the concentration of vitamins and minerals in staple crops through agronomic practices or plant breeding to increase nutritional status. Biofortification is sustainable agriculture-based technique to overcome the problem of Fe deficiency. Biofortification in crops like legumes, rice, maize and sweet potato is highly recommended because these crops dominate in diets of the people worldwide and it is most feasible method to cope the problem of malnutrition. Agronomic biofortification of micronutrients like Fe and zinc (Zn) considered to be most appropriate method and important for health.

Iron is also an important micronutrient essential for growth of plants. It is essential for photosynthetic reaction and it also plays role in activation of many enzymes which are necessary for RNA synthesis. It also plays role in chlorophyll synthesis which is the important feature in plants. Iron application improved the yield of many crops like soybean.

Biofortification is the process of increasing the concentration of vitamins and minerals in staple crops through agronomic practices or plant breeding to increase nutritional status. Biofortification is sustainable agriculture-based technique to overcome the problem of iron deficiency. Biofortification is the latest strategy because biofortified variety released before five years. Biofortification technique focused on staple crops because staple food is chief part of our diet and especially among the groups which are deficient in micronutrient. It also feasible method for providing balanced diet to malnourished populations.  Micronutrients can be added to different crops and different cultivars have different capability to attain nutrients.

Biofortification is one of the breeding goals now a days and the nutritional value of plants can be increased by traditional and transgenic method. Genetic biofortification involve classical breeding or genetic engineering.   Literature showed that agronomic biofortification has been most effective with micronutrients like zinc. Agronomic biofortification done through foliar or soil application to crop directly. Zn, Fe and Se are micronutrients which are focused for agronomic biofortification and they are highly important for health. Agronomic biofortification considered as short-term solution to increase the concentration of micronutrient and also compliment to breeding which is known as more suitable approach. Agronomic biofortification along with organic matter also increased micronutrient availability. It is concluded that biofortification (agronomic or genetic) considered to be long term, practical and cost effective.

Humans need for vitamins and minerals can be meet by mung bean if nutritive values are increased by biofortification. Iron deficiency anemia caused due to deficiency of iron and can be treated by modification in diet. Anemia is one of the serious diseases in which number of red blood cells get decline which can leads to death. Moreover, iron is important part hemoglobin so its deficiency can cause reduction of hemoglobin in blood. Micronutrient not only increase contents like protein but also the yield is enhanced by this method. Micronutrient played a very important role for growth and yield of mungbean.

 

Iron deficiency is a bigger issue in under developed countries like Pakistan. Poor people cannot afford high priced Fe supplements. So, increasing the Fe concentration in mungbean grains through agronomic biofortification is direly needed. Improvement in grain yield of mungbean due to substantial expansion in yield related traits subjected to Fe application is well reported. However, the comparative efficacy of different Fe application methods to improve mungbean grain yield and its biofortification is not reported.