Physiological role and biofortification of zinc in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient of plants and other organisms and is involved in many cellular processes. Zn deficiency is defined as the insufficient Zn available for optimal growth and can lead to a sharp decline in crop yield and quality. About 30% of the world's soils have Zn deficiency. Zn efficiency can be defined as the ratio of grain yield or above-ground dry matter yield to the total Zn uptake under both Zn-deficient and Zn-sufficient conditions. The present review focuses on the potential roles of Zn in the maintenance of plant physiological process, its uptake and translocation, plant response to Zn deficiency with emphasis on wheat, and biofortification strategies to enhance the bioavailability of Zn to wheat grains which might help in addressing significant human nutrition problems related to Zn deficiency.