Candidate gene discovery for the biofortification of wheat grains with essential micronutrients for global food security

Mineral biofortification of wheat grains is a critical aspect of agricultural research and development that aims to enhance the nutritional content of wheat, a staple food consumed worldwide. Therefore, understanding the genetic basis of desirable alleles underpinning micronutrients is important for wheat biofortification. A diverse collection of 111 wheat genotypes was evaluated for two years to measure micronutrient concentrations such as iron (Fe), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn). Our study showed significant natural phenotypic variation for all of the studied minerals underlying both years and genotype means with normal distribution. GWAS analysis revealed 303 significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were associated with all micronutrients in the wheat panel. Highly significant markers were detected to be near several potential candidate genes that have crucial roles in enhanced mineral accumulation in wheat grains. Markedly, the gene TraesCS1A02G402400 that mapped on chromosome 1A was annotated as a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs) that was revealed to control the variation of the grain contents of Zn and Fe. Understanding the role of MAPKs in mineral accumulation offers potential pathways for enhancing the nutritional quality of wheat through biofortification. In conclusion, advances in genomic technologies and a deeper understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying mineral accumulation are paving the way for the development of wheat cultivars with improved nutritional qualities, contributing to the alleviation of micronutrient deficiencies worldwide.