23 Original Research Article Plant Cell Biotechnology and Molecular Biology 23(15&16):23-30; 2022 ISSN: 0972-2025 BIO FORTIFICATION WITH IRON AND ZINC IMPROVES THE GRAIN QUALITY AND YIELD ATTRIBUTES OF WHEAT CROP NASEEM AKHTAR * , MUHAMMAD JAMIL, MUHAMMAD AKRAM QAZI, NAFEESA MUSLIM, MUHAMMAD UMAR HAYAT KHAN, SEHRISH JAMIL, FARHAT BASHIR AND MUHAMMAD MAZHAR IQBAL Soil and Water Testing Laboratory, Sahiwal, Punjab, Pakistan [NA, MJ, NM, MUHK]. Soil Fertility Research Institute, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan [MAQ]. Soil and Water Testing Laboratory, Bahawalnagar, Punjab, Pakistan [SJ]. Soil and Water Testing Laboratory for Research Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab, Pakistan [FB]. Soil and Water Testing Laboratory, Chaniot, Punjab, Pakistan [MMI]. [ * For Correspondence: E-mail: akhtar1302@gmail.com] Article Information Editor(s): (1) Prof. Mohamed Fawzy Ramadan, Umm Al-Qura University, KSA. Reviewers: (1) Ufuoma Bigila Shemishere, Federal University Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria. (2) Roshan Parihar, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, India. Received: 10 February 2022 Accepted: 15 April 2022 Published: 20 April 2022 _______________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT The nutritional and economic value of wheat is not debatable especially for developing countries just like Pakistan. The present study was planned to investigate the effect of Iron (Fe) and Zinc (Zn) on yield attributes and nutritional value of wheat. Soil application and foliar application (two sprays of three levels 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3%) were adopted to evaluate the effect of Fe and Zn in district Bahwalnagar during 2018-19 and 2019-20, for this purpose Galaxy-2013 variety was used. The RCBD design with four replications was used in this study. The results revealed that the data taken after 50 days of sowing about physiological parameters (Leaf area index, Leaf area duration, Crop growth rate and Relative growth rate) showed non-significant results but the data taken after 100 days of sowing showed significant results of these physiological parameters. The treatment having two sprays of 0.3% Fe showed highest yield (4.9 t ha -1 ) and increased the 31% Fe contents in grains over control. In the mean while treatment having two sprays of 0.3% Zn increased the Zn concentration 43.8% in grains as compared to control. Soil application of these nutrients also showed encouraging results as compared to control but foliar sprays gave more significant results about no. of tillers, no. of spikelets per spike, no. of grains per spike, 1000-grain weight. By this way we can not only increase the wheat yield but can also overcome malnutrition that is a serious issue now a day’s especially in developing regions. Keywords: Wheat; nutrition; Fe; Zn; foliar; yield.