ABSTRACT
Micronutrient malnutrition or deficiencies of iron, zinc, iodine, vitamins, etc., produce several negative impacts on the individuals’ as well as societies’ health system. Iron deficiency is found to be common among anemic children and women, leading to growth retardation and cognitive impairment. Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) causes loss of sight and also increases the threat of mortality and morbidity of expecting women while lack of vitamin D leads to deteriorating effects on bones. Zinc and iodine deficiency increases the susceptibility to diseases and retards the physical and mental well-being of individuals. An effective way to curb this inadequacy of micronutrients in plants and animals is biofortification, which is a process of upgrading of the dietary quality of food crops. Genetic and classical breeding approaches are augmented which are often found to be inapt for the rural population. Thus, it is more lucrative to circumvent the conventional fortification dependency and move to biofortification using agriculturally significant bacteria, fungi, and algae as a substitute and sustainable tool to increase micronutrients in crop plants. Mycorrhizal fungi provide tolerance against biotic and abiotic stress, promote the plant productivity and nutritional value by enriching the plants with N, P, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu and also serve as a 336natural fertilizer. Members of basidiomycetes (e.g., Agaricus) are capable of bioaccumulating metals of pharmacological and nutritional significance such as iron, zinc, selenium, and lithium. Algae biomass-based micronutrient bio-components also serve as a natural fertilizer and have been implemented in the biofortification of maize. Microalgae (such as Spirulina, Chlorella, and Arthrospira) and certain seaweeds when incorporated in food products enhance proteins, carbohydrates, essential minerals, polyunsaturated fatty acids (FAs), and vitamins in them. Thus, algae/fungi based biofortification should be encouraged to promote a healthy and nutritious diet feasible for all and more rigorous research is needed to promote the commercialization of bio-fortification for eradicating the problem of malnutrition in the world.
