Enhancing Zinc Bioavailability in Wheat Through Agronomic Biofortification Strategies

Agronomic biofortification offers a sustainable solution to address zinc (Zn) deficiencies in staple crops like wheat. Despite wheat's dietary importance, its micronutrient shortfalls contribute to widespread Zn deficiency.Recent studies highlight the potential of Zn-enriched fertilizers, such as ZnSO? foliar and integrated soil-foliar applications, to enhance Zn concentration and bioavailability in wheat grains, overcoming genotype and soil barriers. Challenges remain, including the need for region-specific nutrient strategies and understanding genotype-environment-management interactions.This research topic aims to explore agronomic biofortification mechanisms, focusing on Zn application methods, physiological processes, and diverse environmental conditions to improve crop nutritional quality.Zinc (Zn) deficiency remains a major global public health challenge, particularly in developing countries where wheat is consider as a primary staple food. Although wheat contributes significantly to daily energy intake, its grains often contain inadequate levels of bioavailable Zn, leading to widespread micronutrient malnutrition or “hidden hunger.” Agronomic biofortification has emerged as a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable approach to enhance grain Zn concentration through improved nutrient management. However, the effectiveness of this strategy is influenced by soil characteristics, climatic conditions, crop genotype and fertilizer application methods, highlighting the need for integrated and region-specific solutions.This Research Topic aims to address these challenges by bringing together cutting-edge research on innovative agronomic biofortification strategies that improve Zn uptake, translocation, accumulation and bioavailability in wheat. It welcomes studies on soil and foliar Zn fertilization, integrated nutrient management, plant physiology, genotype & environment management interactions, precision agriculture and emerging technologies for Zn delivery. The ultimate goal is to develop sustainable, climate-resilient biofortification practices that improve wheat nutritional quality, enhance micronutrient use efficiency and contribute to global food and nutritional security.This Research Topic welcomes original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, perspectives and methods papers that advance the science of agronomic zinc (Zn) biofortification in wheat. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: - Innovative Zn fertilization strategies (soil, foliar, seed treatment and integrated approaches) - Nutrient use efficiency- Zn uptake and translocation mechanisms- Grain Zn bioavailability- Genotype × environment × management interactions- Precision nutrient management- Soil-plant-microbe interactions- Climate-resilient biofortification practices and the integration of biofortification with sustainable cropping systems. Studies employing physiological, biochemical, molecular, omics, modeling and field based approaches are encouraged. Contributions that evaluate the effectiveness of agronomic interventions across diverse agroecological conditions and provide practical recommendations for improving wheat nutritional quality, human health and sustainable food systems are particularly welcome. Topic editors: Hanuman Singh Jatav, Surendra Singh, Satish Kumar Singh Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/83925/enhancing-zinc-bioavailability-in-wheat-through-agronomic-biofortification-strategies