Genetic biofortification is a cost-effective strategy to address iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) deficiencies prevalent worldwide. Being a rich and cheap protein source, chickpea, a food legume grown and consumed across the globe, is a good target for biofortification. Nineteen popular commercial cultivars of India were analysed for Fe and Zn content at four locations representing different agro-climatic zones to study the genotypic and genotype × environment interactions on Fe and Zn. Distribution of phytic acid (PA), an important anti-nutrient that chelates and reduces the mineral bioavailability, was also analysed. Influence of other agronomic traits like days to flowering, plant height and 100 seed weight on Fe and Zn content was also studied. All the traits showed significant G and G × E interactions; however, the magnitude of variance of GXE was lesser than that of G alone. Genotype + genotype-by-environment and genotype-by-trait biplots were used to assess the relations between different environments, genotypes and traits. Iron and zinc content showed positive correlation between them indicating a possibility of their co-selection in breeding. A negative correlation between Zn and PA was observed. However, there was very low variability for PA content in the cultivars under study, indicating that moderate PA is naturally selected in these cultivars during breeding. Despite significant GXE interactions, cultivars with high Fe (> 70 µg/g) and Zn content (> 40 µg/g) at three out of four test locations were identified. Such genotypes will be useful in breeding programs for enhancing mineral micronutrient content and understanding the molecular mechanisms governing their differential uptake.

中文翻译：

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基因型、环境和基因型×环境相互作用对印度鹰嘴豆（Cicer arietinum L.）铁和锌含量的基线状态和影响

遗传生物强化是解决全球普遍存在的铁 (Fe) 和锌 (Zn) 缺乏症的一种具有成本效益的策略。作为一种丰富而廉价的蛋白质来源，鹰嘴豆是一种在全球种植和消费的豆类食品，是生物强化的良好目标。在代表不同农业气候带的四个地点分析了印度 19 个流行的商业品种的 Fe 和 Zn 含量，以研究基因型和基因型 × 环境对 Fe 和 Zn 的相互作用。还分析了植酸 (PA) 的分布，植酸是一种重要的抗营养素，可螯合并降低矿物质的生物利用度。还研究了其他农艺性状如开花天数、株高和 100 粒重对 Fe 和 Zn 含量的影响。所有性状均表现出显着的G和G×E互作；然而，GXE 的方差幅度小于单独的 G。Genotype + genotype-by-environment 和 genotype-by-trait biplots 用于评估不同环境、基因型和性状之间的关系。铁和锌含量之间呈正相关，表明它们在育种中存在共同选择的可能性。观察到 Zn 和 PA 之间呈负相关。然而，所研究的品种中 PA 含量的变异性非常低，表明这些品种在育种过程中自然选择了适度的 PA。尽管存在显着的 GXE 相互作用，但在四个测试地点中的三个地点确定了具有高 Fe (> 70 µg/g) 和 Zn 含量 (> 40 µg/g) 的栽培品种。