Scientists are getting a step closer to developing zinc efficient barley that yields well in zinc-deficient soils Photo: Lars Jacobsen

Researchers from the University of Western Australia (UWA) have identified chromosomal regions conferring zinc efficiency in barley, which could have significance for improvements in zinc status within human diets.

The discovery of genetic markers, promoting improved barley productivity and nutritional quality in zinc-deficient environments, is vital because of zinc’s crucial role in the human body, states Professor Zed Rengel, one of the UWA researchers. He notes that while zinc is essential for physical and mental development, fertility, vision and resistance to infections, many of the world's soils (and, thereby, foods) are zinc-deficient, leading to zinc deficiency being the fifth leading cause of diseases in developing countries.

The researchers discovered that some barley plants had zinc-denseseeds and were zinc efficient, which helped them grow and yield well in zinc-deficient soils . This was discovered when doubled-haploid population of 150 barley lines were screened for seed zinc content under field conditions at UWA's Shenton Park Field Research Station. By comprehensive molecular mapping of the doubled-haploid populations using 302 markers, researchers were able to identify quantitative trait loci for zinc accumulation in barley seed.

> Not a subscriber? Subscribe

RELATED NEWS

Boron-tolerant barley gene identified by Adelaide scientists
Australian application for abiotic tolerant wheat and barley
More Biotech news