RESEARCH PAPER Assessment of genetic variability in landraces of rice (Oryza Sativa L) for grain iron and zinc content using energy-dispersive X-Ray fluorescence spectrophotometer (EDXRF)

B. P. SHWETHA YADAV; C.N. NEERAJA; P. SURENDRA; CHITTI BHARATKUMAR; C.P. CHANDRASHEKARA; M.J. MANJU

doi:10.61475/JFS.2025.v38i2.02

B. P. SHWETHA YADAV Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad - 580 005 India
C.N. NEERAJA Department of Biotechnology, ICAR - Indian Institute of Rice Research (ICAR - IIRR), Hyderabad, India
P. SURENDRA Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad - 580 005 India
CHITTI BHARATKUMAR Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad - 580 005 India
C.P. CHANDRASHEKARA Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad - 580 005 India
M.J. MANJU Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad - 580 005 India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.61475/JFS.2025.v38i2.02

Keywords: Biofortification, Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), Hidden hunger, Iron, Micronutrient deficiencies, Rice, Traditional landraces, Zinc

Abstract

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple food for over half of the global population and plays a crucial role in ensuringfood and nutritional security. However, many rice-dependent populations suffer from widespread deficiencies of essentialmicronutrients, particularly iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), leading to malnutrition and hidden hunger. Biofortification provides asustainable solution to improve the nutritional value of rice, which requires the identification and assessment of diversegermplasm to uncover genetic variation in Fe and Zn concentrations. Present study evaluated grain Fe and Zn content in 100traditional rice landraces using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry during the kharif seasons of2023-24. The Fe concentrations ranged from 5.7 to 14.1 ppm, while Zn concentrations varied from 16.7 to 42.5 ppm,revealing significant genetic variation among the landraces.The landrace Bangar Gundu showed the highest Zn concentration(38.25 ppm) and moderate Fe content (14 ppm), while five other landraces—Choman, Adnen Kelthe, Haldoddiga, Karibhatta,and Uma—exhibited Zn levels exceeding 29 ppm. Seasonal variability in asymmetry and tail behaviour of iron and zincconcentration among rice landraces was obtained through the distribution analysis. Zinc was particularly evident withpronounced right-skewness and leptokurtic distribution during kharif 2024, suggesting the existence of high-value extremegenotypes.These results demonstrate the potential of traditional landraces as valuable genetic resources for biofortificationprograms targeting nutrient-dense rice varieties.