Can Wheat Pack More Nutritional Power?
To raise the micronutrient content in wheat grain, researchers first need to explore whether some wheats, or wild species related to wheat, have higher levels of iron and zinc than others. Preliminary studies conducted at CIMMYT-Mexico, CIMMYT-Turkey, and the University of Adelaide in Australia** have suggested that this variability in micronutrient levels does exist, especially in wild relatives and wheat landraces. Since only 1% of the materials available at CIMMYT have been tested, much more variability is likely to be found. Another positive finding is that increased micronutrient content in wheat is not linked to lower wheat yields. There is a good possibility of breeding wheat varieties that will produce high quantities of micronutrient-rich grain. Breeders also need to consider that there may be sufficient micronutrients in the grain, but they may be present in forms that are not available to human beings. Ivan Ortiz-Monasterio, CIMMYT wheat agronomist, points out that micronutr
