Biofortification of wheat has emerged as a sustainable strategy to combat global micronutrient deficiencies, particularly iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) deficiency, while simultaneously improving grain protein quality. Among available approaches, mutation breeding has gained renewed attention as a non-transgenic tool capable of generating novel genetic variability for nutritional enhancement. This review is based on a comprehensive analysis of peer-reviewed literature retrieved from major scientific databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Studies published between 2005 and 2025 were critically evaluated to compare the effectiveness, advantages, limitations, and future prospects of wheat biofortification approaches. This review critically evaluates the role of mutation breeding in wheat biofortification and compares its effectiveness with conventional breeding, agronomic biofortification, and genome editing technologies. Evidence from published studies indicates that gamma-induced mutant lines have achieved significant increases in grain Fe and Zn concentrations, as well as improvements in storage protein composition, without regulatory constraints associated with transgenic methods. However, variability in genetic stability, potential yield penalties, and genotype × environment interactions remain important limitations. Overall, integrating mutation breeding with advanced molecular tools and agronomic practices offers a promising strategy for developing nutrient-enriched wheat varieties and enhancing global food and nutritional security.
G. Doktyrbay, S. Atabayeva, S. Asrandina et al.· Plants· 0 citations
Overall, this review highlights the potential importance of nutrient homeostasis, redox regulation, and susceptibility modulation as components of future research aimed at developing climate-resilient and nutritionally improved wheat cultivars.
S. Kenzhebayeva, Alfiya Abekova, N. Omirbekova et al.· Plants· 0 citations
Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a major staple crop providing essential calories for human diets. However, intensive breeding for yield has reduced genetic diversity for quality traits, including grain protein content (GPC). Induced mutagenesis offers an effective strategy to broaden the genetic base and generate novel alleles affecting agronomic traits. In this study, M₅ mutant lines of the spring wheat cultivar Eritrospermum-35 were developed through gamma irradiation at 100 Gy and 200 Gy. Lines were evaluated for variation in GPC and days from sowing to heading under controlled greenhouse conditions. GPC was measured using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIR), and allelic variation at the candidate gene Eps-Am1 was analyzed using PCR-based markers. Substantial variation in GPC was observed. The 100 Gy lines showed GPC values ranging from 12.60% to 14.43% (mean 13.56 ± 0.57%), whereas the 200 Gy lines had a mean GPC of 13.76 ± 0.63%. Eleven mutant lines (37%) exhibited significantly higher GPC (5.7–11.0%) than the parent. Importantly, the increase in GPC was not associated with a reduction in thousand kernel weight; TKW values were higher in irradiated lines compared with the parent. Days to heading differed between treatments: 100 Gy lines headed earlier, while 200 Gy lines showed delayed heading. Molecular screening identified new alleles of Eps-Am1, with allele carriers generally exhibiting earlier heading. Overall, gamma irradiation generated valuable genetic variation for improving grain protein content and adaptive traits in spring wheat.
Key words: gamma irradiation, grain protein content, days to heading, thousand kernel weight, spring wheat, Eps-Am1, mutation breeding.
G. Doktyrbay, S. Kenzhebayeva, S. Atabayeva et al.· International Journal of Bio...· 0 citations
