** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** WHILE WHEAT CONTRIBUTES SIGNIFICANTLY TO DIETARY CALORIES, ITS GRAIN ENDOSPERM (FLOUR) CONTAINS VERY LOW LEVELS OF PROVITAMIN A CAROTENOIDS, INCLUDING Β-CAROTENE. IN OUR PREVIOUS STUDY, WE FOUND THAT INHIBITING THE FUNCTION OF CAROTENOID Β-HYDROXYLASE 2 (HYD2) IN PASTA/TETRAPLOID WHEAT, WHICH MAINLY ACCUMULATES LUTEIN IN THE GRAIN ENDOSPERM, RESULTED IN INCREASED CONCENTRATIONS OF Β-CAROTENE. TO ENHANCE Β-CAROTENE LEVELS IN THE GRAIN ENDOSPERM OF BREAD/HEXAPLOID WHEAT, WE HAVE SUPPRESSED HYD2 FUNCTION IN THE BREAD WHEAT BREEDING LINE TRIPLE YELLOW; THIS BREEDING LINE WAS DEVELOPED TO PRODUCE HIGH LEVELS OF TOTAL CAROTENOIDS, PARTICULARLY LUTEIN AND ZEAXANTHIN (BOTH LACK PROVITAMIN A ACTIVITY) IN THE GRAIN ENDOSPERM. IN THIS RESEARCH, WE WILL CARRY OUT BIOCHEMICAL, PHYSIOLOGICAL, AGRONOMIC, POSTHARVEST STABILITY, AND CONSUMER QUALITY EVALUATIONS OF TRIPLE YELLOW AND TRIPLE YELLOW/HYD2-KNOCKOUT PLANTS TO FACILITATE THEIR INTEGRATION INTO THE WHEAT BREEDING PROGRAM AND THE RELEASE OF THESE NEW VARIETIES TO THE PUBLIC. ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL INVESTIGATE THE ROLE OF WHEAT ORANGE (OR) PROTEINS IN REGULATING CAROTENOID ACCUMULATION AND STABILITY TO FURTHER ELEVATE Β-CAROTENE LEVELS IN WHEAT GRAINS. OUR GOAL OF DEVELOPING BREAD WHEAT VARIETIES ENRICHED IN PROVITAMIN A CAROTENOID Β-CAROTENE SEEKS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF FOOD-INSECURE AND MALNOURISHED POPULATIONS IN THE U.S. AND ALLEVIATE VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. OUR PROPOSED RESEARCH ALIGNS WITH THE PRIORITY AREAS OF THE NIFA PROGRAM PLANT HEALTH AND PRODUCTION AND PLANT PRODUCTS, SPECIFICALLY FOCUSING ON MICRONUTRIENT BIOSYNTHESIS AND ACCUMULATION THAT ARE BENEFICIAL TO HUMAN HEALTH AND NUTRITION.

University Of California, Davis

Investigators