Agronomic evaluation of biofortified wheat varieties for zinc and iron content

Abstract:

An anecdote from a rural health worker in Gujarat sums up the hidden hunger problem: children eating two full meals of wheat chapati every day were still showing zinc deficiency symptoms. This research evaluated five wheat varieties, one conventional check (BHU-31) and four biofortified releases (WB-02, HPBW-01, Zinc Shakti, PBW-757), for grain zinc and iron content, agronomic performance, and yield stability at the Swarnim Gujarat Agricultural University, Gandhinagar, during rabi 2022-2023. A RCBD with four replications was used. Zinc Shakti recorded the highest grain Zn (46.8 mg/kg), 65% above the conventional check (28.4 mg/kg), while PBW-757 led for iron (43.7 vs 32.1 mg/kg). Grain yield of biofortified varieties ranged from 3.78 to 4.12 t/ha, comparable to the conventional check (3.94 t/ha), confirming no yield penalty. The waterfall analysis showed that the yield advantage of HPBW-01 (4.12 t/ha) over BHU-31 was driven primarily by more tillers and grains per spike. These results support the deployment of biofortified wheat in Gujarat's wheat belt as a cost-free strategy against micronutrient malnutrition.