COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF ZINC SOURCES FOR ZINC-BIOFORTIFICATION OF MUNG BEAN (Vigna radiata L.)

Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) is a significant pulse legume crop of Pakistan. It is considered as a meat for poor community. Malnutrition has become a crucial problem worldwide. Stunted growth is increasing gradually due to the micronutrient deficiency in food. Zinc (Zn) has a prominent role in evolution and development mechanism of living organisms. Zn biofortification is easy to increase Zn content in food material by using modern agriculture and nanotechnology techniques. Zn deficiency and stunted growth in human beings can be reduced by Zn biofortification in mung bean pulse. Considering above mentioned scenarios, a field research was executed to assess mung bean Zn biofortification using different available sources alone or in combination to biofortify mung bean seeds. Zn sources i.e. ZnO, ZnSO4, EDTA-Zn, Zn-lysine chelate, ZnO nanoparticles alone and ZnO nanoparticles along with lysine were applied through foliar application @0.1% Zn concentration. The experiment was laid out in summer season of 2018 in RCBD (Randomized Complete Block Design) at Student's Research-Farm, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Mung bean variety "Azri-Mung-2006" was raised in field experiment as a trial crop. Results showed that foliar applied Zn-lysine significantly increased the plant height (60.83 cm), root length (38.40 cm), number of pods (41.66), pod length (12.96 cm), 1000-seed weight (51.26 g) and seed yield (2065.60 kg ha(-1)). Foliar applied ZnO nanoparticles significantly increased the seed Zn contents (33.33 mg kg(-1)) and leaf Zn contents (28.34 mg kg(-1)) while maximum shoot zinc contents (56.33 mg kg(-1)) were observed where foliar ZnO nanoparticles with lysine was applied and maximum root Zn contents (32.66 mg kg(-1)) were observed where foliar EDTA-Zn was applied. Thus, this is first field investigation which showed the efficacy of different Zn sources for fortification of mung bean and results of this study can be employed on biofortification of other crops to cope malnutrition.