557 - ‘Genetic diversity for grain nutrients in wild emmer wheat: potential for wheat improvement’. Annals of botany. 105(7), pp.1211-1220

Reference Number: 557

Year: 2010

Authors: Chatzav et al.

Link: Link to original paper

Summary

Micronutrient malnutrition, particularly zinc and iron deficiency, afflicts over three billion people worldwide due to low dietary intake. In the current study, wild emmer wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides), the progenitor of domesticated wheat, was tested for (1) genetic diversity in grain nutrient concentrations, (2) associations among grain nutrients and their relationships with plant productivity, and (3) the association of grain nutrients with the eco-geographical origin of wild emmer accessions.

Significance for a baker:

Wild emmer wheat contains particularly high levels of zinc, iron and protein that has been lost in the domestication of wheat. This study discusses possibilities for breeding to ensure the higher nutritional value of wheat, which will then be present in the bread you bake.

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