Biofortificação de mandioca: perspectivas para o enriquecimento com ferro e zinco

Abstract

Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) deficiencies are well-known health problems in humans, especially in populations from developing countries. Biofortification is a strategy that aims to increase the content of selected micronutrients, including Fe and Zn, in staple foods. Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a staple crop of tropical and subtropical developing countries, feeding more than 600 million people a day worldwide and can be a good source of nutrient and vitamins enrichment for the population. However, the nutritional quality of the cassava roots is not sufficient to meet all dietary needs and more studies on biofortification (genetic and agronomic) of this crop can lead to an improvement of its nutritional quality. In the present study, we sought to information and alternatives for cassava biofortification with Fe and Zn through cultivar selection and soil management programs. In the first study, we assessed the Fe and Zn contents in sweet cassava clones enriched with carotenoids grown in field trials during two seasons. In the second study, we selected accessions from the Cerrado´s Cassava Germplasm Bank (BGMC), located on Embrapa Cerrados, Planaltina, DF, Brazil, to evaluate the genotypic variation and micronutrients contents in roots and leaves in order to provide the information for selection of cassava accessions with substantial capacity to acquire minerals and for crop biofortification. Finally, in the third study, we investigated the Zn contents in cassava clones enriched with carotenoids cultivated under different soil management in different areas from the Brazilian Cerrado in order to evaluate the influence of genotypic variation and agronomic intervention on Zn status in the plant. Thus, this work aims to promote knowledge about cassava nutrition and contributes to guarantee food and nutritional security of Brazilian population, especially of the poor people.