Global Vitamin Enhancement of Maize Grain: Wonderful Opportunities for Genomic Selection

Advances in understanding the genetic basis of variation for levels of total carotenoids and provitamin A carotenoids in maize grain have been made recently. Provitamin A carotenoids are converted to retinol or Vitamin A in the human body. Global Vitamin A deficiencies are widespread. Vitamin A deficiency can result in night blindness and increased susceptibility to infections and can eventually result in death. It is estimated that 250,000 to 500,000 children become blind every year as a result of vitamin A deficiency, and that half of these die within one year of losing their eyesight (www.who.int/nutrition/topics/vad/en/). Fortunately the genes that control levels of provitamin A in maize grain have been discovered. Maize is a major food staple in Sub-Saharan Africa where vitamin deficiencies are prevalent. Initial selection of favorable forms of two carotenoid biosynthetic genes have dramatically increased provitamin A concentrations in experimental hybrids grown in Zambia. However, there are needs for a major widespread selection initiative and program to convert most all of the maize throughout Sub-Saharan Africa to high provitamin A concentrations. Developments in genomic prediction and selection based on DNA sequence variation are emerging and could greatly help this goal. Artificial Intelligence may be very useful in designing very efficient selection programs. More and more DNA sequence data will become available as technology advances. The entire genome of maize plants in breeding programs will be routinely DNA sequenced. However, the rate of increase of DNA sequence data is already making it challenging for humans to effectively handle and use all this information. How AI may help a global breeding effort for more nutritious maize grain effort will be discussed, including efforts to increase other vitamins, such as Vitamin E. Some consideration will be given to possible negative consequences of AI driven selection programs to enhance vitamin concentrations in maize grain throughout the developing and developed world

A nutrition education program to increase the consumption of whole grains among college students at the University of New Hampshire dining halls

The relationship between whole grain consumption and a reduced risk of some chronic disease is prominent in the literature. Yet consumers and college students fail to meet the current recommendations. This study investigated the impact of whole grain education materials and whole grain labels placed in the UNH dining halls to improve students\u27 knowledge and whole grain consumption. Survey responses from 504 students were analyzed for whole grain knowledge scores and consumption levels from before and after this program. While overall knowledge score and whole grain consumption did not increase due to this program, a significant positive relationship was seen between knowledge and whole grain intake. Twenty percent of the post-survey respondents did however report increasing whole grain intake due to the influence of the new point-of-choice labels. A passive nutrition education program can be influential in increasing whole grain intake in some college students, but more research is needed to determine the most effective method

More Attractive Homes Club II : the bedroom

February, 1932.Cover title

More Attractive Homes Club I : the home grounds

December, 1932.Includes bibliographical references (page 28).Cover title.Includes bibliographical references (page 28)

Making the farm grounds attractive

September, 1938

Genome-Wide Association Study and Pathway-Level Analysis of Kernel Color in Maize.

Rapid development and adoption of biofortified, provitamin A-dense orange maize (Zea mays L.) varieties could be facilitated by a greater understanding of the natural variation underlying kernel color, including as it relates to carotenoid biosynthesis and retention in maize grain. Greater abundance of carotenoids in maize kernels is generally accompanied by deeper orange color, useful for distinguishing provitamin A-dense varieties to consumers. While kernel color can be scored and selected with high-throughput, low-cost phenotypic methods within breeding selection programs, it remains to be well established as to what would be the logical genetic loci to target for selection for kernel color. We conducted a genome-wide association study of maize kernel color, as determined by colorimetry, in 1,651 yellow and orange inbreds from the Ames maize inbred panel. Associations were found with y1, encoding the first committed step in carotenoid biosynthesis, and with dxs2, which encodes the enzyme responsible for the first committed step in the biosynthesis of the isoprenoid precursors of carotenoids. These genes logically could contribute to overall carotenoid abundance and thus kernel color. The lcyE and zep1 genes, which can affect carotenoid composition, were also found to be associated with colorimeter values. A pathway-level analysis, focused on genes with a priori evidence of involvement in carotenoid biosynthesis and retention, revealed associations for dxs3 and dmes1, involved in isoprenoid biosynthesis; ps1 and vp5, within the core carotenoid pathway; and vp14, involved in cleavage of carotenoids. Collectively, these identified genes appear relevant to the accumulation of kernel color

A foundation for provitamin A biofortification of maize: genome-wide association and genomic prediction models of carotenoid levels.

Efforts are underway for development of crops with improved levels of provitamin A carotenoids to help combat dietary vitamin A deficiency. As a global staple crop with considerable variation in kernel carotenoid composition, maize (Zea mays L.) could have a widespread impact. We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of quantified seed carotenoids across a panel of maize inbreds ranging from light yellow to dark orange in grain color to identify some of the key genes controlling maize grain carotenoid composition. Significant associations at the genome-wide level were detected within the coding regions of zep1 and lut1, carotenoid biosynthetic genes not previously shown to impact grain carotenoid composition in association studies, as well as within previously associated lcyE and crtRB1 genes. We leveraged existing biochemical and genomic information to identify 58 a priori candidate genes relevant to the biosynthesis and retention of carotenoids in maize to test in a pathway-level analysis. This revealed dxs2 and lut5, genes not previously associated with kernel carotenoids. In genomic prediction models, use of markers that targeted a small set of quantitative trait loci associated with carotenoid levels in prior linkage studies were as effective as genome-wide markers for predicting carotenoid traits. Based on GWAS, pathway-level analysis, and genomic prediction studies, we outline a flexible strategy involving use of a small number of genes that can be selected for rapid conversion of elite white grain germplasm, with minimal amounts of carotenoids, to orange grain versions containing high levels of provitamin A