PAU, Ludhiana
PI: Dr V.S. Sohu
Co PIs: Drs N.S.Bains, G.S. Mavi, H. Kaur
Donor lines were identified from various sources including adapted and unadapted wheat germplasm. The agronomically elite lines and varieties were used as recipient parents to develop breeding material. Promising lines with high grain Fe and Zn concentration were also evaluated for phytic acid (anti-nutritional factor) to identify lines with better bioavailability of micronutrients. Besides these, improvement for grain protein content was also targeted.
Nominations of entries in National Wheat Biofortification Nurseries: There were 12 nominations from PAU in 3rd National Wheat Biofortification Nursery and two entries viz., BWL 6086 and BWL 5191 performed better for grain Zn at Ludhiana and 8 nominations in 4th National Wheat Biofortification Nursery.
Identification of donors: Promising lines received from CIMMYT, Mexico in the form of 7HPYT were evaluated for grain yield, grain micronutrient concentration as well as phytic acid during 2017. On the basis of low phytic acid and high zinc concentration, entries 404 and 415 were identified to be promising.
Selected 7HPYT entries evaluated for grain micronutrient concentration (ppm) at Ludhiana during 2017 Screening D genome: Eighteen accessions of D genome progenitor species Triticum tauschii were evaluated for grain Fe and Zn concentration at Ludhiana during 2017. Highest grain Fe was recorded for accessions AT 14 (108.2 ppm) and AT 104 (58.2) and highest grain Zn was recorded for accessions AT 104 (57.8 ppm) and AT 95 (52.2 ppm).
Development of Synthetic wheats: Synthetic (synthesized) wheats developed through crosses among durum wheat and T. tauschii were evaluated for grain Fe and Zn, phytic acid and grain yield. Among the 31 synthetic wheats evaluated, promising ones were Syn 9 and Syn 14 for high grain Zn and Syn 14 and Syn 5 for high grain yield and low phytic acid. 
Top 10 Zinc containing synthetics wheats developed using D genome accessions
Phytic acid and grain yield in synthetics wheats