ABSTRACT
In China, diets are largely based on plant-derived foods (with rice being one of the most important food components), especially for the poorer segment of the rural population. The daily Zn supply from rice depends on Zn concentration and the molar ratio of phytic acid to Zn in the total diet, because phytic acid inhibits the use and absorption of Zn by the human body. This chapter reports on the results of the joint programs, and aims to explore avenues to increase supply of bioavailable Zn to people from rice crops produced in China. It considers the Chinese context explicitly by investigating the potential on Zn-deficient soils, the shift in the cultivation system, and the particulars of Chinese dietary habits. Timing and location of Zn fertilization are two important aspects potentially influencing Zn allocation within plants. Jiang et al. conducted another hydroponic experiment with Handao-502 and Baxiludao genotypes under greenhouse conditions.
