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Biofortifying Scottish potatoes with zinc

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Abstract

Background and aims

The diets of many people lack sufficient zinc (Zn). This article investigates the production of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) crops with greater tuber Zn concentrations to increase dietary Zn intakes.

Methods

Field experiments were undertaken to increase Zn concentrations in potato tubers using foliar Zn fertilisers.

Results

Foliar Zn fertilisers increased tuber Zn concentrations but excessive applications reduced tuber yield in all four potato genotypes studied. Zinc oxide and zinc sulphate were more effective than zinc nitrate as foliar fertilisers for increasing tuber Zn concentrations whilst maintaining yields. Foliar Zn-fertilisers increased Zn concentrations in both flesh and skin of tubers. Although Zn-biofortification had no effect on the concentrations of iron, manganese, copper, calcium, magnesium or potassium in tubers, it increased tuber phytate concentrations. Cooking reduced Zn concentrations in Zn-biofortified tubers and this effect was exacerbated by peeling. After cooking, the quotient of Zn concentrations in Zn-biofortified/non-biofortified tubers ranged from 2.36 to 3.58. Applying foliar Zn fertilisers to a preceding potato crop increased Zn concentrations in grain of a following barley crop significantly in only one out of 3 years.

Conclusion

Foliar Zn fertilisers can increase Zn concentrations in potato tubers and, potentially, dietary Zn intakes.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS) of the Scottish Government through Work Package 7.2 (2010-2016), by the FAO/IAEA through Technical Contract No. 16738/R0, and by a Fellowship funded by The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) of Brazil through Grant #402868/2012-9. We thank Professor John H. Beattie (Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen) for the challenge of biofortifying Scottish potatoes with zinc, Ralph Wilson and Euan Caldwell for help with field trials, Mark Tucker (Yara, Grimsby, UK) for supplying Zintrac 700, and Ian Elliott (Omex, Lincoln, UK) for supplying HarvestPlus II.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, UK

    Philip J. White, Jacqueline A. Thompson & Gladys Wright

  2. Distinguished Scientist Fellowship Program, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Philip J. White

  3. Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Søren K. Rasmussen

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  1. Philip J. White
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  2. Jacqueline A. Thompson
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Correspondence to Philip J. White.

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Responsible Editor: Ismail Cakmak .

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White, P.J., Thompson, J.A., Wright, G. et al. Biofortifying Scottish potatoes with zinc. Plant Soil 411, 151–165 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-016-2903-4

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