Iron and zinc are essential minerals not just for plants but also in human
nutrition. Iron deficiency could lead to death, which has been evident in
developing countries with high rice consumption. Thus, Song Tan of the
Capital Normal University in Beijing, China, and a team of scientists aimed
to develop rice enriched with iron and zinc. They overexpressed MxIRT1, a
ferrous transporter from iron-efficient apple tree (Malus xiaojifactnensis),
in rice.

Result showed successful expression of MxIRT1 in transgenic rice. Iron and
zinc concentration increased by up to 3 times the normal amount in
non-transgenic rice. Further tests indicated that iron was actively
transported within the plant compared to cadmium given that iron is readily
available in the surroundings. The results indicate that MxIRT1 is a good
candidate gene for biofortification of rice with iron and zinc.

[link.springer.com]
[link.springer.com]