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Maize is the staple food crop for millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa. Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) deficiency is a significant health risk that mainly affects low-income populations who rely solely on maize-based diets. This problem can be alleviated by developing micronutrient-rich maize grain. The aim of this study was to determine the adaptation and performance of hybrids for Fe and Zn concentration and grain yield under low soil nitrogen (N) and optimal conditions. Eighteen hybrids derived from lines and testers with low, medium, and high Fe and Zn concentration were grown during the summer rainy seasons of 2017 and 2018 at three locations under low and optimal N conditions. There were significant genotype and environment effects for grain yield, and Fe and Zn concentration, but the genotype by environment interaction effects were the largest, accounting for between 36% and 56% of variation under low N conditions. Low N levels significantly reduced grain yield, and Fe and Zn concentration. Hybrids G1, G2, G4, G7, G10, G11, and G16 were relatively stable, with relatively high mean Fe and Zn concentrations, and low additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) stability values and iron stability index (FSI) and zinc stability index (ZSI) under low N conditions. These genotypes can be considered for production under low N stress conditions. Two environments (E4 and E3) were identified for good discriminatory power for genotype performance in terms of Fe and Zn content, respectively. Stable and high-yielding genotypes with high Fe and Zn concentration can be used as biofortified hybrids, which can contribute to a sustainable solution to malnutrition in the region, especially under low N conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lentil grains with high nutritional value qualify as a promising candidate for alleviation of micronutrient malnutrition in South Asia and North Africa. Genetic variation for micronutrient concentration in germplasm is prerequisite for biofortification of this crop. In the present study, ninety-six lentil genotypes consisting of Indian (released varieties, advanced breeding lines and germplasm lines) and Mediterranean (germplasm lines and landraces) lines were evaluated for grain iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) concentrations and the stability of these traits was studied across three different locations in India. The pooled analysis of variance revealed significant genotype, environment and genotype by environment interaction (GEI) mean squares for both the micronutrients. Stability analysis employing the AMMI model elucidated the first two interaction principal components as significant and cumulatively explained 100% of GEI variation. The first two components explained 55.9% and 44.1% of the GEI sum of squares for grain iron and 50.8% and 49.2% for grain zinc concentration, respectively. No correlation between grain iron and zinc concentration was observed. Among 96 lines, genotypes IG 49, P 16214, ILL 147 and P 2118 were found to be relatively stable, having higher mean iron and zinc concentrations with low modified AMMI stability value (MASV), modified AMMI stability index (MASI) and genotype selection index (GSI). The identified promising genotypes (high Fe: P 16214, IG 115, P 2127 and IC 560812 and high Zn: P 8115, P 3234, LL 461 and IC 560812) can be utilized for studying the genetics of grain Fe and Zn concentration by developing mapping populations and for biofortification of Indian lentil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]