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Genetic Diversity for Zinc, Calcium and Iron Content of Selected
Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences

Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Open Access

ISSN: 2155-9600

Research Article - (2015) Volume 5, Issue 6

Genetic Diversity for Zinc, Calcium and Iron Content of Selected Little Millet Genotypes

Manimozhi Selvi V1*, Nirmalakumari A2 and Senthil N3
1Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu, India, E-mail: manimozhiagri2005@gmail.com
2Centre of Excellence in Millets, Tamil Nadu, India, E-mail: manimozhiagri2005@gmail.com
3Department of Plant Biotechnology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu, India, E-mail: manimozhiagri2005@gmail.com
*Corresponding Author: Manimozhi Selvi V, Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu, India, Tel: 0914226611215

Abstract

Little millet (Panicum sumatrense Roth. ex. Roem. and Schultz.) is an important indigenous small millets crop. The nutritional quality of little millet grain is superior to major cereals. The present experiment was carried out to identify the sources of zinc, iron and calcium rich genotypes. within this objectives 30 selected high yielding genotypes comprising of 26 germplasm accessions and four check varieties viz., CO2, CO3, CO (Samai) 4 and OLM 203 were evaluated in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications during summer, 2013 (Jan-May) at Millets Breeding Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. All the 30 genotypes were subjected for grain nutrient analysis (zinc, iron and calcium) using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Nutrient analysis results revealed that zinc, iron and calcium contents in dehusked grains of little millet genotypes differed significantly among the genotypes. The zinc content was varied from 2.04 to 8.00 mg/g with a mean of 5.23 mg/g. Wide variation in iron content was observed and it ranged from 1.49 to 23.38 mg/g with a mean of 4.95 mg/g. The grain calcium content ranged from 1.14 to 13.15 mg/g with a mean of 3.90 mg/g. The genotypes TNPsu 25 (8.00 mg/g), TNPsu 23 (7.42 mg/g), TNPsu 21(6.95 mg/g) and TNPsu 9 (6.85 mg/g) had higher zinc content. Similarly the accessions TNPsu 23 (23.38 mg/g) and TNPsu 22 (19.22 mg/g) were superior in grain iron content. The CO3 (13.15 mg/g), CO2 (8.45 mg/g), TNPsu 141 (8.23 mg/g) and CO2 (Samai) 4 (6.52 mg/g) were some of the accessions which had significantly higher calcium content when compared to standard check varieties. A few of the genotypes like TNPsu 25, TNPsu 23 and TNPsu 22 were rich in zinc and iron contents and TNPsu 141 was rich in zinc and calcium contents.

Keywords: Little millet; Nutritional quality; Grain micronutrient content; Genetic diversity; Variability

Introduction

The gradual change in climatic conditions particularly rainfall receipt and distribution in tropical and subtropical regions of the world necessitates productivity enhancement of stress tolerant crops such as small millets as one option for food security. Little millet (Panicum sumatrense Roth. ex. Roem. and Schultz.) is an important indigenous small millets crop. It is well known for its drought tolerance and is considered as one of the least water demanding crops. Micronutrient malnutrition resulting from the consumption of diets deficient in minerals, vitamins and essential amino acids, affects more than one-half of the world’s population especially women and children in developing countries [1]. The nutritional quality of little millet grain is superior to many other major cereals. It is also contains B vitamins, especially niacin, B6 and folic acid calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and zinc [2]. Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disorder in the world affecting over 4 billion people, with more than 2 billion people, mainly in developing countries, actually being anemic [3]. Zinc deficiency in humans reduces growth, sexual maturity and the immune defence system [4]. Whole grains of little millet may have health promoting effects equal to or even in higher amount than fruits and vegetables and have a protective effect against insulin resistance, heart diseases, diabetes, ischemic stroke, obesity, breast cancer, childhood asthma and premature death [5].

Very little efforts have been made from the green revolution time for the genetic enhancement of this crop although it contributes to the food security for the poor as well as tribal population. Wide spread reports on energy and micronutrient malnutrition in tribal population have raised concerns on the food and nutritional security. In the present climate changing scenario and in the context of micronutrient malnutrition, this crop has a large hidden potential as a promising crop of the future. This untapped potential should be properly exploited for our food and nutritional security in the coming years. The first pre requisite for initiating a breeding programme to develop micronutrient rich genotypes, is to screen the available germplasm and to identify the source of the genetic variation for the target trait which can be used in crosses, genetic variation, molecular marker development and to understand the basic enhancement of micronutrient. This study mainly focused to identify sources and improve zinc, iron and calcium contents in little millet which would be a pertinent approach to combat wide spread malnutrition.

Materials and Methods

The experimental material consisted of 110 little millet genotypes having their origin from different geographical regions maintained at the Small Millets Germplasm Unit of Department of Millets, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, and Coimbatore (Table 1). The 110 genotypes comprised of 105 germplasm accessions and five check varieties viz., CO2, CO3, Paiyur 1, CO (Samai) 4 and OLM 203. They were evaluated during kharif, 2012 and observations on 12 quantitative traits [days to 50 per cent flowering, plant height, basal tillers per plant, culm branches per plant, peduncle length (cm), panicle length (cm), panicle exertion (cm), flag leaf length (cm), flag leaf width (cm), thousand grain weight (g), single plant dry fodder yield (g) and single plant grain yield (g)] were recorded on five randomly selected competitive plants descriptor for Panicum sumatrense [6]. Based on the data for high single plant yield and bold seeds, 30 genotypes were selected. The 30 genotypes comprised of 26 germplasm accessions and four check varieties viz., CO2, CO3, CO (Samai) 4 and OLM 203 and the experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications during summer, 2013 (Jan- May) at Millets Breeding Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. Recommended agronomic practices were followed to maintain a good crop stand. All the 30 genotypes were subjected to grain nutrient analysis (zinc, iron and calcium). Nutrient analysis was carried out in BRAIC-VFX-130 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer model with Iron Hallow cathode lamp at wavelength 248.3 nm. Nutrient analysis was carried out on triplicate ground samples of grains from individual plant by digestion with 9:4 diacid mixture (HNO3: HCLO4) followed by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) method using ECIL AAS (Perkin Elmer) as per the protocol described by [7,8].

S.No Genotype Origin
1 TNPsu 1/79 Tamil Nadu
2 TNPsu 2 Tamil Nadu
3 TNPsu 3 Tamil Nadu
4 TNPsu 4 Tamil Nadu
5 TNPsu 5 Tamil Nadu
6 TNPsu 6 Tamil Nadu
7 TNPsu 7 Tamil Nadu
8 TNPsu 7/79 Tamil Nadu
9 TNPsu 8 Tamil Nadu
10 TNPsu 8/78 Tamil Nadu
11 TNPsu 9 Tamil Nadu
12 TNPsu 10 Tamil Nadu
13 TNPsu 11 Tamil Nadu
14 TNPsu 12 Tamil Nadu
15 TNPsu 13 Tamil Nadu
16 TNPsu 14 Tamil Nadu
17 TNPsu 15 Tamil Nadu
18 TNPsu 16 Tamil Nadu
19 TNPsu 16/78 Tamil Nadu
20 TNPsu 17 Tamil Nadu
21 TNPsu 18 Tamil Nadu
22 TNPsu 19 Tamil Nadu
23 TNPsu 21 Tamil Nadu
24 TNPsu 22 Tamil Nadu
25 TNPsu 23 Tamil Nadu
26 TNPsu 24 Tamil Nadu
27 TNPsu 24/79 Tamil Nadu
28 TNPsu 25 Tamil Nadu
29 TNPsu 26 Tamil Nadu
30 TNPsu 27 Tamil Nadu
31 TNPsu 28 Tamil Nadu
32 TNPsu 29 Tamil Nadu
33 TNPsu 30 Tamil Nadu
34 TNPsu 31 Tamil Nadu
35 TNPsu 32 Tamil Nadu
36 TNPsu 33 Tamil Nadu
37 TNPsu 34 Tamil Nadu
38 TNPsu 35 Tamil Nadu
39 MS 108 Tamil Nadu
40 MS 109 Tamil Nadu
41 MS 110 Tamil Nadu
42 MS 115 Tamil Nadu
43 MS 509 Tamil Nadu
44 MS 662 Tamil Nadu
45 MS 1003/1 Tamil Nadu
46 MS 1211 Tamil Nadu
47 MS 1236 Tamil Nadu
48 MS 1826 Tamil Nadu
49 MS 3969 Tamil Nadu
50 MS 4527 Tamil Nadu
51 MS 4684 Tamil Nadu
52 MS 4700 Tamil Nadu
53 MS 4700/1 Tamil Nadu
54 MS 4725 Tamil Nadu
55 MS 4729 Tamil Nadu
56 MS 4735 Tamil Nadu
57 MS 4779 Tamil Nadu
58 MS 4784 Tamil Nadu
59 PM 29 Madhya Pradesh
60 PM 42 Bihar
61 PM 141 Madhya Pradesh
62 PM 143 Karnataka
63 PM 295 Andhra Pradesh
64 PM 295/1 Madhya Pradesh
65 PM 296 Bihar
66 PM 307 Andhra Pradesh
67 PM 410 Karnataka
68 IPM 59 Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh
69 IPM 115 Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh
70 IPM 118 Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh
71 IPM 221 Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh
72 IPM 221/A Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh
73 IPM 226 Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh
74 IPM 231 Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh
75 IPM 232 Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh
76 IPM 272 Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh
77 IPM 838 Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh
78 IPM 884 Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh
79 IPM 895 Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh
80 IPmr 700 New Delhi
81 IPmr 709 New Delhi
82 IPmr 712 New Delhi
83 IPmr 712/1 New Delhi
84 IPmr 837 New Delhi
85 IPmr 838/1 New Delhi
86 IPmr 839 New Delhi
87 IPmr 841 New Delhi
88 IPmr 857 New Delhi
89 IPmr 859 New Delhi
90 IPmr 861 New Delhi
91 IPmr 862 New Delhi
92 IPmr 886 New Delhi
93 IPmr 889 New Delhi
94 IPmr 891 New Delhi
95 IPmr 1018 New Delhi
96 IPmr 1046 New Delhi
97 IPmr 1061 New Delhi
98 PMR 762 Banglore, Karnataka
99 RPM 8-1 Madhya Pradesh
100 RPM 11 Madhya Pradesh
101 ARP 9 Tamil Nadu
102 OLM 112 Odisha
103 OLM 114 Odisha
104 OLM 115 Odisha
105 TNPsu 141 Tamil Nadu
106 Paiyur 1 Tamil Nadu
107 CO 2 Tamil Nadu
108 CO 3 Tamil Nadu
109 CO(Samai) 4 Tamil Nadu
110 OLM 203 Odisha

Table 1: List of little millet genotypes used for evaluation.

Results and Discussion

Generally iron and zinc contents in major food crops range from 5 to 150 μg/g [9]. Nutrient analysis results revealed that zinc, iron and calcium contents in dehusked grains of little millet genotypes differed significantly among the genotypes (Table 2).

Genotypes Grain nutrient content (mg/g)
Zinc Iron Calcium
TNPsu 1/79 6.36 ± 0.02 5.39 ± 0.14 2.66 ± 0.06
TNPsu 9 6.85 ± 0.04 4.67 ± 0.02 2.22 ± 0.04
TNPsu 12 4.91 ± 0.03 4.10 ± 0.04 2.00 ± 0.04
TNPsu 13 4.41 ± 0.23 3.15 ± 0.04 3.38 ± 0.01
TNPsu 17 4.67 ± 0.05 3.40 ± 0.02 1.68 ± 0.03
TNPsu 18 5.55 ± 0.03 3.20 ± 0.04 1.52 ± 0.02
TNPsu 19 5.86 ± 0.20 3.76 ± 0.07 1.59 ± 0.06
TNPsu 21 6.95 ± 0.08 5.88 ± 0.05 2.08 ± 0.02
TNPsu 22 4.66 ± 0.06 19.22 ± 0.16 3.22 ± 0.05
TNPsu 23 7.42 ± 0.08 23.38 ± 0.32 4.09 ± 0.06
TNPsu 25 8.00 ± 0.05 4.62 ± 0.09 1.68 ± 0.02
TNPsu 27 5.95 ± 0.01 3.85 ± 0.30 1.35 ± 0.08
TNPsu 28 4.63 ± 0.17 3.17 ± 0.04 1.14 ± 0.05
TNPsu 141 6.28 ± 0.03 4.32 ± 0.03 8.23 ± 0.03
MS 110 6.42 ± 0.03 4.32 ± 0.15 2.63 ± 0.05
MS 509 6.17 ± 0.06 4.00 ± 0.04 4.51 ± 0.01
MS 1003/1 5.03 ± 0.03 1.66 ± 0.03 2.89 ± 0.03
MS 1211 4.64 ± 0.03 2.02 ± 0.01 2.94 ± 0.05
MS 1236 5.67 ± 0.04 2.46 ± 0.02 5.18 ± 0.03
MS 1826 5.25 ± 0.05 2.24 ± 0.02 5.18 ± 0.03
MS 3969 5.25 ± 0.03 8.33 ± 0.03 4.77 ± 0.02
MS 4684 5.39 ± 0.02 1.93 ± 0.03 4.91 ± 0.02
MS 4700 4.37 ± 0.01 1.49 ± 0.01 5.34 ± 0.01
MS 4784 5.20 ± 0.04 2.57 ± 0.04 5.20 ± 0.05
PM 29 5.70 ± 0.04 4.29 ± 0.05 3.92 ± 0.03
IPmr 886 6.39 ± 0.03 3.00 ± 0.04 5.66 ± 0.04
CO 2 2.78 ± 0.01 4.07 ± 0.05 8.45 ± 0.06
CO 3 2.56 ± 0.03 4.40 ± 0.03 13.15 ± 0.04
CO (Samai ) 4 2.04 ± 0.02 4.45 ± 0.05 6.52 ± 0.06
OLM 203 2.41 ± 0.0 5.22 ± 0.0 1.89 ± 0.0
Mean 5.25 2.24 5.18
CD 0.21 0.28 0.12
CV (%) 27.35 97.09 65.47

Table 2: Variability for grain nutrient content in selected 30 littlemillet genotypes.

The zinc content varied from 2.04 to 8.00 mg/g with a mean of 5.23 mg/g (Figure 1). The genotypes TNPsu 25 had the highest grain zinc content of 8.00 mg/g followed by TNPsu 23 (7.42 mg/g), TNPsu 21(6.95 mg/g) and TNPsu 9 (6.85 mg/g) whereas the lowest zinc content was found in CO (Samai) 4 (2.04 mg/g).

nutrition-food-sciences-Variation-iron

Figure 1: Variation for iron and zinc contents in littlemillet genotypes.

Wide variation in iron content was observed and it ranged from 1.49 to 23.38 mg/g with a mean of 4.95 mg/g (Figure 2). Two of the little millet genotypes viz., TNPsu 23 (23.38 mg/g) and TNPsu 22 (19.22 mg/g) had very high iron content genotypes that had not been reported earlier. In contrast MS 4700 had the lowest grain iron content (1.49 mg/g).

nutrition-food-sciences-littlemillet-genotypes

Figure 2: Variation for iron and calcium contents in littlemillet genotypes.

The grain calcium content varied from 1.14 to 13.15 mg/g with a mean of 3.90 mg/g (Figure 3). The genotype CO3 had the highest calcium content (13.15 mg/g) followed by CO2 (8.45 mg/g), TNPsu 141 (8.23 mg/g) and CO (Samai) 4 (6.52 mg/g) while the genotypes viz., TNPsu 28 (1.14 mg/g) and TNPsu 27 (1.35 mg/g) had the lowest calcium content.

nutrition-food-sciences-calcium-contents

Figure 3: Variation for zinc and calcium contents in littlemillet genotypes.

The maximum grain calcium, iron and zinc contents in little millet grains were 13 mg/g, 9.3 mg/g and 3.7 mg/g respectively which was reported by FAO [10]. A few of the genotypes like TNPsu 25, TNPsu 23 and TNPsu 22 were rich in both zinc and iron contents and TNPsu 141wass rich in zinc and calcium content. Nambi et al. [11] also reported high iron and calcium contents in little millet. Past attempts by Shashi et al. [12] and Upadhyaya et al. [13] to detect and estimate wide genetic variability for grain nutrients (zinc, calcium and iron) in finger millet were based on a relatively fewer numbers of accessions. Basanti Brar et al. [14] reported wide range of iron and zinc contents in dehusked rice grains within 220 rice genotypes. These genotypes having high nutrient contents could possibly be used in breeding programmes, promotion of large scale cultivation and consumption. Under- utilized species like little millet is likely to be useful in fighting malnutrition and hidden hunger, both in areas of cultivation and outside.

The results implied that in general the little millet genotypes exhibited high variation for the grain nutrient contents viz., iron, and zinc and calcium contents. This type of large genotypic variation especially for iron content in little millet has not been reported earlier. The large genotypic variation of iron, calcium and zinc in little millet grains could be due to tightly controlled homoeostatic mechanisms that regulate metal absorption, translocation and redistribution in plants allowing adequate, but non-toxic levels of these nutrients to accumulate in plant tissues [15]. Iron, zinc and calcium contents in edible portions also depend on the efficiency of translocation of minerals from root tissues to edible plant organs and accumulation thereof.

Conclusion

Zinc, iron and calcium rich genotypes viz., TNPsu 25, TNPsu 23, TNPsu 22 and TNPsu 141 could be involved in hybridization with agronomically superior accessions / breeding lines to combine grain nutrients (zinc, iron and calcium) and grain yield. Genotypes with poor content of nutrients viz., TNPsu 28, TNPsu 27, MS 4700 and MS 1003/1 identified in this study could be an ideal material for molecular understanding of the metal homeostasis in little millet. Even though some of the genotypes had lower calcium content than that of the the standard check varieties but those genotypes were superior in zinc and iron contents. Thus little millet could be a good source of nutrients which need to be exploited properly. This research findings could help in promoting the little millet consumption and thereby nutritional intake of the consumers significantly. This would also contribute to the food basket of the nation in addressing the food security.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge PPV & FRA, Ministry of Agriculture, GOI, New Delhi and the Project coordinator, AICSMIP, Bangalore for funding the research work.

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Citation: Manimozhi Selvi V, Nirmalakumari A, Senthil N (2015) Genetic Diversity for Zinc, Calcium and Iron Content of Selected Little Millet Genotypes. J Nutr Food Sci 5:417.

Copyright: © 2015 Manimozhi Selvi V, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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