USA
August 2, 2011
It is never too early to start a career in biofortification. For Bhiravi Rathinasabapathi, a recent graduate of Eastside High School in Gainesville, Florida, her interest in plant biology began in the 5th grade. Since then, she has expanded her research to the field of genetics and most recently biofortification.
In July, Ms. Rathinasabapathi’s hard work was recognized with an Agricultural Science Student Award from the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation (CCFF) for her research on iron biofortification. The foundation and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) annually recognize scientists, educators, and students for exemplary innovation in the field of agricultural science.
She was introduced to biofortification after discovering the work being done by HarvestPlus. “I really feel like this technology could make a difference,” she said. “Rates of nutrition deficiencies are alarming. It’s important that we get these crops out to farmers to improve their overall well being.”
Her research explored whether plants that overexpressed ferritin genes could store higher amounts of iron (ferritin is an iron storage and transport protein). She also compared leaf and soil application of iron-rich fertilizers as a way of increasing iron content in plants.
For her experiments, Rathinasabapathi used Arabidopsis thaliana, a small flowering plant that is commonly used in this type of research, from the University of Florida where she worked with her mentors, Dr. Charles Guy and her father Dr. Bala Rathinasabapathi.
Contrary to her hypothesis, the overexpression of the ferritin gene did not increase iron content but did increase yield. “My experiments also suggested that foliar application of fertilizer is a much more effective way of providing iron to plants than through adding iron fertilizer to the soil,” she said.
Ms. Rathinasabapathi graduated from high school this year and will be attending the University of California at Berkeley in the fall to study English and Computer Science. She would like to explore the field of bioinformatics. When not studying plants in the lab, she is an avid photographer and interested in creative writing.
HarvestPlus extends their congratulations to Ms. Rathinasabapathi on her award and looks forward to working with her and the next generation of researchers who will continue to explore how scientific research can help to reduce hidden hunger.
Read the award announcement.
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