Team finds an economical way to boost the vitamin A content of maize

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Maize has considerable natural variation in levels of provitamin A the precursors that are converted to vitamin A upon consumption. These ears of maize are part of a collection of lines derived from an analysis that identifies different forms of a ge ...
Maize has considerable natural variation in levels of provitamin A, the precursors that are converted to vitamin A upon consumption. These ears of maize are part of a collection of lines derived from an analysis that identifies different forms of a gene that influences concentrations of provitamin A. Credit: Photo by Catherine Bermudez Kandianis

A team of plant geneticists and crop scientists has pioneered an economical approach to the selective breeding of maize that can boost levels of provitamin A, the precursors that are converted to vitamin A upon consumption. This innovation could help to enhance the nutritional status of millions of people in the developing world.


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All News summaries for January 17, 2008

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