Assessment of the bioaccessibility of zinc in the selected biofortified food grains.

Biofortification of zinc (Zn) is a great means of eradicating Zn deficiency, essentially in developing countries. Current study has evaluated the influence of Zn treatment on bioaccessibility of Zn in food grains along with germination assays. Edible (seed) and inedible (root) portions of BARI Gom 28 (Triticum aestivum), BARI Chola 5 (Cicer arietinum) and BARI Mung 6 (Vigna radiata) sprouts were analyzed for Zn bioaccessibility. The highest Zn (44.50 ppm) was extracted from the seed of BARI Chola 5 at 50 ppm Zn and the lowest (0.45 ppm) was extracted from the root of BARI Mung 6 at control treatment. The highest Zn bioaccessibility percentage (90%) was observed at the seed of BARI Chola 5 and the lowest percentage (62%) at the root of BARI Gom 28 sprouts at 25 ppm Zn treatment. After optimizing fractional factorial design analysis, maximum Zn response is observed in the seed of BARI Chola 5 at 50 ppm Zn treatment with 91.06% composite desirability. Germination percentage, fresh and dried weight of sprouts, sprout length, seed vigor and biological yield showed better results at 50 ppm Zn. Thus, biofortification of food grains through hydroponics approach using control, 25 ppm and 50 ppm Zn treatments produced contrasting effects on Zn bioaccessibility.