Genome Engineering and Essential Mineral Enrichment of Crops

Crops lacking in essential minerals are a main cause of nutrient deficiencies in humans. Malnutrition affects a large proportion of the global population, due to low concentrations of micronutrients found within the edible portions of crops. One approach to address this is to increase the mineral concentrations within edible crops. Genetic variation within crop varieties can be exploited to improve biofortification through plant breeding. Genetic engineering is a promising technology to address the problem, and gene editing in particular is a precise method now used to develop nutrient rich crops. A number of genetically modified biofortified plant cultivars with increased mineral content are now available, and new genotypes with higher mineral concentrations are currently under development. Root engineering of cereals is a recent approach used in biofortification, stress tolerance and phytoremediation through the genetic engineering of crops. This emerging new era of transgenic plants offers a promising future to combat health problems related to nutrient deficiencies, as well as to address global environmental pollution.