Wheat breeding for low phytic acid content: State and perspectives

Abstract

Interest in wheat breeding for low phytic acid content arised from its roll as antinutrient factor which chelates mineral elements (Ca, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu and P), leading to their inadequate use. Excretion of unused P in phytic acid complex through non-ruminant animals such as poultry, swine and fish causes water eutrophication. Numerous indirect methods (e.g. spectrophotometric) and direct methods (HPLC - High Performance Liquid Chromatography) were developed for fast and accurate phytic acid determination in wheat. It typically represents 50-85% of seed total phosphorus and one to several percents of dry seed weight. Phytic acid content and phytate phosphorus genetic variability have been determined for wheat cultivars and lines under different environmental conditions. Wheat mutant (Triticum aestivum L) for low phytic acid content Js-12-LPA was created through breeding efforts.

Keywords

• breeding
• mutants
• phytic acid
• wheat