Molecular approaches for increasing the micronutrient density in edible portions of food crops

Micronutrient accumulation and uptake traits are inherited and could theref ore be improved using molecular genetic techniques, Two distinct applicatio ns of molecular biological techniques are described that could be used to m anipulate the micronutrient density in edible portions of food crops. One i s the use of DNA markers as genetic tags for the introgression of desired t raits and the second is the introduction of defined genetic material, which is the process of genetic engineering. This chapter covers concepts import ant in the: use of molecular markers and concentrates on molecular details of micronutrient uptake by model plant and microbial species because of the recent advances in this area of research. Although micronutrient uptake pr ocesses do not all directly relate to major human nutritional deficiencies, the review of this area of research provides a conceptual framework for co nsideration of aspects important when developing crops for improved human h ealth. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.