Abstract: Iron is the micronutrient essential for human body. Iron deficiency is the major nutrition problem all over the world, especially in the developing counties. Plant gene engineering can be used to increase the content and its bioavailability of iron in plant. This may be achieved by introduction of genes that can code iron-binding proteins and increase expression of proteins responsible for iron absorption and transport in plants. For genetically modifyied plants, their contents of inhibitors, such as phytate would substantially reduced iron absorption as another approach. Increasing the expression of compounds such asβ- carotene and vitamin E would enhance iron absorption as also a possibility.

Key words: plant gene engineering, iron nutrition, bioavailability