Understanding genotypic variation and identification of promising genotypes for iron and zinc content in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

• Published in: Journal of food composition and analysis Vol. 88; p. 103458
• Main Authors: Kaur Grewal, Satvir, Sharma, Kanu Priya, Bharadwaj, Rachana D., Hegde, Venkatraman, Tripathi, Shailesh, Singh, Sarvjeet, Kumar Jain, Pradeep, Kumar Agrawal, Pawan, Mondal, Biswajit
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01-05-2020
• Subjects: Bio-accessibility; Chickpea (Cicer arietinumL.); Food analysis; Food composition; Micronutrient malnutrition; Minerals; Phytic acid; Micronutrient malnutrition; Bio-accessibility; Food composition; Minerals; Food analysis; Phytic acid; Chickpea (Cicer arietinumL.)
• ISSN: 0889-1575; 1096-0481
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jfca.2020.103458

•Micronutrient malnutrition is an emerging global issue.•Chickpea has the potential to ameliorate micronutrient deficiencies.•A diverse panel of 402 chickpea germplasm characterized for Fe, Zn and phytic acid.•Commercial cultivars are rich in Zn and Fe with low phytic acid.•Promoting production of micronutrient rich cultivars can alleviate hidden hunger.
Chickpea known as poor man’s meat has the potential to ameliorate micronutrient deficiencies. The objective was to understand heritable variation for zinc and iron in a diverse panel of 402 germplasm at two locations. Zinc and iron contents ranged from 1.10 to 5.91 mg/100 g to 0.50–8.54 mg/100 g, respectively and are comparable to some of the best biofortified crops of Harvest Plus target levels. Chickpea cultivars released for commercial cultivation were found to contain higher amounts of grain zinc and iron at both the locations. Analysis of phytic acid in cultivars with higher mineral contents showed negative correlation with zinc and iron. Heera, H82-2 and H214 for Zn; and L550, KGD1168, PG114, JG74 and ICCV6 for Fe are the cultivars identified with higher contents of Zinc (>4 mg/100 g) and iron (>6 mg/100 g). Promoting production of such iron and zinc rich cultivars will help in increasing availability and consumption of high quality chickpea necessary to alleviate hidden hunger.