Researchers at Murdoch University in Australia are using unique nuclear resources to gain detailed information on how wheat crops absorb administered micronutrients to maximize their efficient use. The goal is to find the best time and method to provide micronutrients to crops. 

Researcher Tona Sanchez-Palacios said the goal of the project is also to produce and test new fertilizers that can lead to biofortification of wheat grain with zinc (Zn). "The application of foliar fertilizers to increase the nutritional value of grains is a method that farmers can adopt to maintain grain quality and provide the nutrition needed for human health," he says.  

Using zinc radioisotopes, the researchers apply them to the plant and then track its biodistribution. The technique reveals the amount of zinc absorbed and precisely where zinc, if it has moved from the site of application, has been transported in the body of the plant, including the grain. 

Although the application of zinc as a micronutrient improves the quality of the edible parts of the plant, knowing when and how much zinc to apply is critical in the crop.

Source: Agrolink