Phytin in oilseeds: physiology, breeding and implications for nutrition and health

Oilseed crops play a crucial role in providing vegetable oils for various purposes.Given the growing global demand for vegetable oils and their high agronomic value, oilseed crops are planted extensively worldwide.Several antinutritional factors are present in oilseeds.It is also worth noting that during the preparation of chemically purified protein from various seeds, a fraction containing organic phosphorus was isolated, which is predominantly present as phytin.This suggests that oil seeds could potentially contain phytin.Phytin is a crucial mineral storage compound found in seeds.It serves as the principal storage form of phosphorus in many plant tissues.Its significance lies in several aspects such as it is vital for seed and grain development as well as successful seedling growth, while often considered an antinutritional substance in human diets, phytin may also have positive nutritional roles.It acts as an antioxidant and an anticancer agent.Phytin is present in the parenchyma of ripe seeds in the form of globoids large basophilic concretions.Understanding phytin's role in seeds is essential for sustainable agriculture and human health.Researchers continue to explore its multifaceted effects on nutrition and well-being.Advances in breeding have led to the development of low phytate mutants in staple food crops like maize and barley, which is useful for oilseeds.These mutants offer potential benefits in areas such as enhancing the sustainability of lands used for crop cultivation.Reduced phytate levels positively impact mineral nutrition in human and animal nutrition.The quest for low phytic acid (LPA) crops has gained momentum due to their potential benefits for both human nutrition and agricultural sustainability.The LPA or "low-phytate" seed trait offers several advantages such as managing phosphorus (P) more efficiently.LPA crops enhance the global availability of essential minerals (iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium) for both humans and animals.Critics argue that breeding for the LPA trait may lead to reduced yields and field performance or diminish phytic acid's health benefits.Progress continues in breeding and genetically engineering high-yielding, stress-tolerant LPA crops.Alternative approaches, such as using the enzyme phytase as a feed additive or biofortification breeding, are also effective.Even with a moderate reduction in yield (e.g., 5% to 10%), growing a nutritionally-enhanced crop variant seems justified.Prioritizing nutrition alongside yield can lead to crops that are both productive and highly nutritious.In summary, the present review aims to provide a critical understanding of phytin's role in seeds, physiology, genetics, crop improvement for low phytic acid contents, methods to reduce phytin in oilseeds using various methods and its impact on nutrition and health for sustainable agriculture and human well being.