Table of Contents

PLANT RESEARCH

Development of Biofortified Maize through Molecular Breeding
HS Gupta, Firoz Hossain, and V Muthusamy

Considering the growing importance of maize as both food and feed, biofortification of maize through enhancement of provitamin A, coupled with superior protein quality, assumes worldwide significance. The present article describes development of ß carotene-rich quality protein maize (QPM) hybrids through molecular breeding. Development of the ß-carotene-rich version of Vivek QPM-9 is the first successful demonstration of deployment of marker-assisted selection for ß-carotene enrichment in the genetic background of QPM.

Transgenic Soya Bean Seeds Accumulating ß-Carotene
Monica Schmidt

Due to its prominence in global diets, soybean could have a significant worldwide impact as a functional food. We have metabolically engineered soybean with enhanced levels of the nutraceutical carotenoid ß-carotene accumulated in its seeds. Interestingly, the ß-carotene seeds also have an altered oil composition – an increase of oleic acid – as well as an elevated (4–8%) overall protein content. Hence, our research achieved an improvement in three desired traits simultaneously in soybean seeds—elevated levels of ß-carotene, oleic acid, and protein. Each trait addresses a consumer and/or processor need and will contribute to satisfying the growing global food demands.