Q6 of 805 Page 1

By taking two examples explain how bio-fortification has helped in improving food quality.

Bio-fortification is a means to improve public health by developing food crops rich in micronutrients. Breeding crops to improve the content and quality of protein, oil and content of minerals and vitamins has been in practice since the past two decades. Vegetables rich in vitamins (Vitamin A enriched carrots; vitamin c enriched bitter gourd etc.) have been developed by Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi.


a. Maize hybrids (Quality Protein Maize- QPM) have been developed with twice the amount of amino acids, lysine and tryptophan. A study by Graham et al. (1989) showed improved growth in children who were fed QPM in comparison with those who were fed ordinary maize.


b. High protein content wheat variety called Atlas 66 has been used as donor to develop improved cultivated wheat.


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