Molecular breeding for increasing micronutrient content in sorghum.

Abstract

Abstract This chapter summarizes the limited efforts that have been undertaken to enhance the micronutrient content in sorghum using molecular breeding approaches. Increasing the micronutrient content of sorghum grain is of paramount importance for alleviating malnutrition since it will help in overcoming the hidden hunger that is prevalent in millions of women and children in the sorghum-growing/consuming regions across the globe. It is known that biofortification involving crop breeding, genetic modification, and even agronomic augmentation of minerals, is a promising strategy that offers immense promise for addressing the challenges posed by micronutrient malnutrition.