Author(s):

N Shashidhara and Shailaja Hittalmani

Abstract: The nutritional well-being and health of people are vital prerequisites for the development of societies. The fortification of salt with iodine has been a global success story, but other micronutrient supplementation schemes have yet to reach vulnerable populations sufficiently. Malnutrition, with its 2 constituents of protein–energy malnutrition (PEM) and micronutrient deficiencies continues to be a major health burden in developing countries particularly in India. Globally, 740 million peoples are deficient in iodine, about 2 billion in zinc, 1 billion in iron and 250 million in Vitamin A deficiency, mainly young children’s and pregnant women’s in developing countries. In India, an additional concern is that many patients with severe malnutrition are also infected with HIV (Müller and Krawinkel, 2005). Therefore supplementing recommended amount of protein and nutrients in regular human diet is prerequisite. Protein is an important part of good nutrition at every meal. Vitamins and minerals can fulfill nutrient needs on a once-per-day basis but for protein the body has no ability to store a daily supply. Protein need become more important during periods of reduced food intake such as weight loss or during periods of recovery after illness or during aging. To maintain healthy muscles and bones for adults, at least 30 g of protein should be consumed at more than one meal (Donald, 2009). Rice is the staple food for more than half of the world’s population and is a major source of energy, as well as containing essential amino-acids (Lysine, Tryptophan, Methionine, Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine) are essential to human health, but which the body cannot synthesize. Hence, enrichment of protein in rice would have a positive impact on millions of poor and malnourished people in developing countries particularly in India. Researchers have been trying to boost the protein content in rice for five decades, only few groups found success in the development of high protein rice. Total grain protein (TGP) content is the prime most important parameter in rice quality production, TGP is a complex trait controlled by several genes and also it is tightly linked with grain yield. Therefore, the segregating generations is a good breeding material to know the genetics of inheritance pattern of several traits as well as to break the tight linkage if it is required. Keeping these in mind, PhD research work was carried out (thesis submitted in 2010) with an objective of development of high protein rice (Bio fortification of rice - alleviating malnutrition through the introgression of high grain protein content). Recombinant inbred lines (RIL’s) were developed with higher protein content of 12.55 % under aerobic situation using BPT 5204 as female parent (popularly grown fine grain variety in Karnataka, also called Sonamasuri) and HPR 14 as male parent (Local land race showing 14.1% of protein). We are able to boost around 4.5 % of total protein from present day cultivating varieties without affecting to the regular yield as much of BPT 5204 along with medium to fine quality as well as moderate to higher content of micronutrients (Iron, Zinc, Molybedinum and Copper) in the selected promising RIL’s. We have also identified nine microsatellite SSR markers significantly associated with TGP as per regression method. The present outcome of the study will be helpful in developing countries particularly in India for children with PEM problems and pregnant women’s, so pediatricians and obstetricians may prescribe the consumption of this variety of rice for regular consumption. Increase in quantity of rice production was made possible through the green revolution during 1960’s and consequently it helped to alleviate hunger and poverty in developing countries of the world. Now, the world particularly developing counties like India urgently needs one more green revolution particularly quality green revolution to alleviate PEM and micronutrient deficiencies. Hence, different fields like agriculture and medicine as well as other related fields need to collaborate and work together in a forum to fight against malnutrition problems as it is a global issue.

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