Technologies in Agronomic Biofortification with Zinc in Brazil: A Review
Zinc deficiency is a major contributor to hidden hunger, affecting billions of people worldwide, particularly in vulnerable populations. Agronomic biofortification with zinc is a promising strategy to increase both crop productivity and the nutritional quality of food, especially in countries like B...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/12/1828 |
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| author | Ana Beatriz Pires Silva Lidiane Fátima Santos Borges Fabíola Lucini Gutierres Nelson Silva Elcio Ferreira Santos |
| author_facet | Ana Beatriz Pires Silva Lidiane Fátima Santos Borges Fabíola Lucini Gutierres Nelson Silva Elcio Ferreira Santos |
| author_sort | Ana Beatriz Pires Silva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Zinc deficiency is a major contributor to hidden hunger, affecting billions of people worldwide, particularly in vulnerable populations. Agronomic biofortification with zinc is a promising strategy to increase both crop productivity and the nutritional quality of food, especially in countries like Brazil, where tropical soils are often deficient in this micronutrient. This review analyzes the main technologies applied in the zinc biofortification of edible crops in Brazil, including fertilizer types, application methods, doses, and the use of innovative approaches such as nano-fertilizers and biofertilizers. The results show that the foliar application of zinc sulfate at doses of 600 g ha<sup>−1</sup> increased zinc concentration in grains by 25–40% without reducing crop yields. Additionally, the use of zinc nanoparticles increased wheat grain zinc content by up to 30% and biomass production, while biofertilizer application with diazotrophic bacteria raised zinc concentration in maize grains by 12.7–18.2%. These technologies demonstrate potential for enhancing zinc use efficiency and improving the nutritional quality of crops. Standardizing biofortification practices is essential to maximize their impact on food and nutritional security, contributing to the prevention of zinc deficiency in human populations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4b64cbae8796441b9a165b38ea9a945f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj-art-4b64cbae8796441b9a165b38ea9a945f2025-08-20T03:16:36ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-06-011412182810.3390/plants14121828Technologies in Agronomic Biofortification with Zinc in Brazil: A ReviewAna Beatriz Pires Silva0Lidiane Fátima Santos Borges1Fabíola Lucini2Gutierres Nelson Silva3Elcio Ferreira Santos4Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados 79804-970, MS, BrazilFaculdade de Ciências Agrárias, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados 79804-970, MS, BrazilLaboratório de Pesquisa em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados 79804-970, MS, BrazilFederal Institute of Mato Grosso do Sul, Nova Andradina 79750-000, MS, BrazilFaculdade de Ciências Agrárias, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados 79804-970, MS, BrazilZinc deficiency is a major contributor to hidden hunger, affecting billions of people worldwide, particularly in vulnerable populations. Agronomic biofortification with zinc is a promising strategy to increase both crop productivity and the nutritional quality of food, especially in countries like Brazil, where tropical soils are often deficient in this micronutrient. This review analyzes the main technologies applied in the zinc biofortification of edible crops in Brazil, including fertilizer types, application methods, doses, and the use of innovative approaches such as nano-fertilizers and biofertilizers. The results show that the foliar application of zinc sulfate at doses of 600 g ha<sup>−1</sup> increased zinc concentration in grains by 25–40% without reducing crop yields. Additionally, the use of zinc nanoparticles increased wheat grain zinc content by up to 30% and biomass production, while biofertilizer application with diazotrophic bacteria raised zinc concentration in maize grains by 12.7–18.2%. These technologies demonstrate potential for enhancing zinc use efficiency and improving the nutritional quality of crops. Standardizing biofortification practices is essential to maximize their impact on food and nutritional security, contributing to the prevention of zinc deficiency in human populations.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/12/1828micronutrient deficiencyfood and nutritional securityfood safetysustainable agriculturehuman health |
| spellingShingle | Ana Beatriz Pires Silva Lidiane Fátima Santos Borges Fabíola Lucini Gutierres Nelson Silva Elcio Ferreira Santos Technologies in Agronomic Biofortification with Zinc in Brazil: A Review Plants micronutrient deficiency food and nutritional security food safety sustainable agriculture human health |
| title | Technologies in Agronomic Biofortification with Zinc in Brazil: A Review |
| title_full | Technologies in Agronomic Biofortification with Zinc in Brazil: A Review |
| title_fullStr | Technologies in Agronomic Biofortification with Zinc in Brazil: A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Technologies in Agronomic Biofortification with Zinc in Brazil: A Review |
| title_short | Technologies in Agronomic Biofortification with Zinc in Brazil: A Review |
| title_sort | technologies in agronomic biofortification with zinc in brazil a review |
| topic | micronutrient deficiency food and nutritional security food safety sustainable agriculture human health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/12/1828 |
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