1School of Biotechnology, S K University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Chatha, Jammu-180009, India
2Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi-110062, India
3School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, BGSB University, Rajouri-185131, India
4Department of Chemistry, Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi-110025, India
5Division of Biochemistry and Plant Physiology, S K University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Chatha, Jammu-180009, India
*For Correspondence-smzargar@gmail.com
Online published on 16 December, 2015.
The micronutrients iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) play an important role in the metabolism of both animals and plants. The deficiency of these micronutrients, therefore, has a direct effect on their growth and metabolism. In order to enhance the level of micronutrients in crop plants, it is necessary to understand the genetic makeup and regulation of their transporter genes. The genetic improvement of crop plants is an option to attain nutritional security along with food security. In this review, we have described the impact of Fe and Zn on animal and crop plants, the need to improve the mineral contents (Fe and Zn) in crops with a special focus on common bean as a model for understanding the mineral uptake and the approaches towards deciphering the micronutrient contributing genes.
Iron, Zinc, Common bean, Transporters, Genomics
