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Zinc biofortification of bread winter wheat grain by single zinc foliar application

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Abstract

Wheat grain Zn concentration has important implications for Zn dietary intake in humans. Zn biofortification of wheat by Zn foliar application has been recognized as an efficient tool to enhance grain Zn level. In Serbia, wheat is a staple crop, and no attention is paid to wheat grain as a source of Zn. For the first time, we investigated the effect of Zn foliar application on grain Zn concentration and yield of high-yielding local bread wheat cultivars in Serbia as potential to improve Zn intake in local population. Field experiments were conducted over two growing seasons at two sites located in Vojvodina Province. Zn was applied by spraying of 0.5% water solution of ZnSO4 at the end of flowering stage. Zn foliar application had no significant effect on grain yield. Significant increases of Zn grain concentration resulted from Zn treatment in all of five cultivars tested, ranging from 15 to 49%. No significant difference between the two sites was found in the mean increase in grain Zn concentration by Zn foliar application compared with the control. No correlation was found between grain yield and grain Zn concentration, implying that high grain yields common in intensive wheat production in Serbia do not limit Zn biofortification of grain by Zn foliar application. Zn biofortification of wheat grain by a single foliar spray at the end of the flowering stage can be recommended as an efficient tool to increase Zn intake in human population and prevent low dietary Zn intake.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, contract number 451-03-68/2020-14/200116. We thank Dr. Steve Quarrie for improving the use of English in the manuscript.

Funding

This study was supported by the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, contract number 451-03-68/2020-14/200116.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    Dragana Ivanović & Jasna Savić

  2. Maize Research Institute Zemun Polje, Belgrade, Serbia

    Dejan Dodig & Vesna Kandić

  3. Faculty of Biofarming, Bačka Topola, Megatrend University, Belgrade, Serbia

    Nenad Đurić

  4. Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia

    Gordana Tamindžić

  5. Plant Nutrition Research Group, Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    Nina Nikolić

Authors
  1. Dragana Ivanović
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  2. Dejan Dodig
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  3. Nenad Đurić
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  4. Vesna Kandić
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  5. Gordana Tamindžić
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  6. Nina Nikolić
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  7. Jasna Savić
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Correspondence to Jasna Savić.

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Ivanović, D., Dodig, D., Đurić, N. et al. Zinc biofortification of bread winter wheat grain by single zinc foliar application. CEREAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 49, 673–679 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42976-021-00144-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42976-021-00144-2

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