The role of orphan crops in the transition to nutritional quality-oriented crop improvement

Biotechnol Adv. 2023 Aug 26:108242. doi: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108242. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTMicronutrient malnutrition is a persisting problem threatening global human health. Biofortification via metabolic engineering has been proposed as a cost-effective and short-term means to alleviate this burden. There has been a recent rise in the recognition of potential that underutilized, orphan crops can hold in decreasing malnutrition concerns. Here, we illustrate how orphan crops can serve as a medium to provide micronutrients to populations in need, whilst promoting and maintaining dietary diversity. We provide a roadmap, illustrating which aspects to be taken into consideration when evaluating orphan crops. Recent developments have shown successful biofortification via metabolic engineering in staple crops. This review provides guidance in the implementation of these successes to relevant orphan crop species, with a specific focus on the relevant micronutrients iron, zinc, provitamin A and folates.PMID:37640278 | DOI:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108242
Source: Biotechnology Advances - Category: Biotechnology Authors: Source Type: research