Articles

Anti nutritional factors (ANFs) represent a very heterogeneous group of plant metabolites which diminish nutrient bioavailability, induce digestive retardation or cause toxicity in humans and livestock. Major ANFs are phytic acid, raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs), saponins, tannins, protease inhibitors, lectins, gossypol, glucosinolates, cyanogenic glycosides and oxalates, erucic acid and 2 N oxalyl L 2 -diaminopropionic acid (2 ODAP). Traditional breeding of crops has lowered the ANFs in certain crops, whereas genetic relationships and pleiotropy have slowed down. Recent developments in genomics, multi omics, marker assisted selection, RNA interference (RNAi) and CRISPR/Cas based genome editing make it possible to do ANF biosynthesis genes very specific and precise. The review is a synthesis of the information on ANF biosynthesis, dietary effects, and genetic control of them using the viewpoints of a plant breeder.