Rationale for biofortification of provitamin A in maize

Rationale for biofortification of provitamin A in maize grain Global severity of vitamin A deficiency WHO Vitamin and Mineral Nutrition Information System, 1995 -2005 Estimated % of daily calories from maize Source: FAO, 2011 7 million pregnant women and 127 million preschool-aged children are vitamin A deficient 1

Nutritional profile of maize grain Highest Pro. VA Activity Starchy food staple Carotenoids mostly in endosperm blue, water-soluble; red, fat-soluble Source: USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Alternatives: Chemical fortification Diet diversification Supplementation Diepenbrock and Gore. 2015. Crop Sci. 55: 1437 -1448 Average: 1. 7 μg/g Target: 17. 0 μg/g

Discovery and design: Maize that fortifies itself Maize Germplasm Phenotypic Data HPLC Quantification Mature Grain (2 yrs) 8 carotenoid traits ~17, 000 HPLC runs Carotenoids that accumulate in cereal endosperm tissue are synthesized in amyloplasts

We collaborate with Zambia Our research results flow to Harvest. Plus/CIMMYT, enabling MAS for high provitamin A levels in maize grain that surpass target levels Harvest. Plus is part of the CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A 4 NH) CIMMYT - International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center IITA - International Institute of Tropical Agriculture 4