Reseach and Implementation Program for the 3rd Phase of the HarvestZinc Project

The 3rd Phase of the HarvestZinc project has been underway for a year and is organized under four tasks.

Task-1: Determine the response of newly developed high zinc (Zn) lines from the HarvestPlus breeding program to soil and foliar spray of Zn and other micronutrients—field trials are underway in India (rice) and Pakistan (wheat). In addition to soil and foliar-applied Zn, micronutrient cocktail solutions containing Zn, iodine (I), selenium (Se), and iron (Fe) are being evaluated. Thus far, results have been variable, but the cocktail solutions look promising for enhancing micronutrient uptake.

Task 2: The effect of next generation foliar micronutrient fertilizers (especially Zn and I) and cocktail application of micronutrients (Zn, Se, Fe, and Se) on grain concentrations of micronutrients. Current studies are being conducted in rice (Thailand, China, India, and Brazil) and wheat (China, India, Pakistan, Turkey, and South Africa). Significant treatment response has occurred in only limited trials, but foliar applications of I are proving effective in improving the I concentrations in grain.

Task III: Understand the differential response of wheat and maize to foliar zinc fertilization. Previous work has shown maize to have poorer and more variable response to Zn than rice and wheat. The current project, just underway at Sabanci University in Turkey, is studying leaf Zn absorption and transportation in young maize and wheat plants and is evaluating the role of N that is associated with grain Zn accumulation.

Task IV: Promote and create awareness to facilitate the adoption of the Zn and I fertilizer strategy at the farmer and policy maker levels. Several activities have been conducted, such as 'Zinc Day Events' to introduce farmers and governments to the importance and benefits of Zn and I biofortification in human nutrition and health. In addition, large-scale farmer-participatory field trials have been established to demonstrate the benefits of Zn-enriched seeds in partner countries. For example, work is ongoing with rice in Brazil India, and Thailand, and with wheat in China, Turkey, South Africa, and Pakistan.