VITAMIN A IS AN ESSENTIAL MICRONUTRIENT THAT IS REQUIRED FOR MANY ASPECTS OF HUMAN NUTRITION AND HEALTH. THE STAPLE CROP WHEAT PROVIDES ~20% OF TOTAL DIETARY CALORIES FOR HUMANS, BUT LACKS PROVITAMIN A CAROTENOIDS IN THE ENDOSPERM (FLOUR) OF GRAINS.THIS RESEARCH IS FOCUSED ON INCREASING THE ACCUMULATION OF BETA-CAROTENE, THE MOST EFFICIENT FORM OF THE PROVITAMIN A CAROTENOIDS, IN THE ENDOSPERM OF TETRAPLOID (PASTA) WHEAT GRAINS USING A NON-GMO TARGETING INDUCED LOCAL LESIONS IN GENOMES (TILLING) MUTANT-BASED APPROACH. THE TILLING MUTANTS DEVELOPED IN THIS RESEARCH WILL BE MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE AND CAN BE READILY INCORPORATED INTO BREEDING PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP TETRAPLOID WHEAT CULTIVARS WITH INCREASED GRAIN BETA-CAROTENE CONTENT. THE VITAMIN A BIOFORTIFIED WHEAT WILL PROVIDE IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE TO REDUCE VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AS WELL AS THE FOOD INSECURE, MALNOURISHED POPULATIONS IN THE U.S. (~14% U.S. HOUSEHOLDS ARE DEEMED TO BE FOOD INSECURE). THIS RESEARCH ADDRESSES THE PRIORITY AREA PHYSIOLOGY OF AGRICULTURAL PLANTS OF THE NIFA PROGRAM PLANT HEALTH AND PRODUCTION AND PLANT PRODUCTS.