The current trend of large-scale bread production is to facilitate processing at an industrial level, considering the use of flour mixtures with different chemical and technological parameters and incorporating food additives. Accordingly, costs can be minimized, whereas the quality and the shelf-life of the final product might increase, but a full characterization of the flours that must be used and the selection of the food additives to be incorporated into the dough is required. In this context, three Portuguese wheat flour varieties were evaluated (FariRamos, Nacional and AJMiranda), as well as two types of food additives with the aim to increase bread shelf-life. In these flours, the levels of K, S, P, Ca and Cl prevailed, but the moisture and ash contents of FariRamos were the highest and lowest, respectively. The colour of all flours was generally within the desired standard values. Nacional flour contained a higher fat content, but all the flours showed a higher relative abundance of linoleic acid (C18:2), followed by palmitic acid (C16:0) and oleic acid (C18:1). AJMiranda flour revealed a higher content of wet gluten and protein, but the SDS sedimentation index showed a higher value in the FariRamos flour. The fall index, which directly monitors the activity of the α-amylase enzyme, showed a lower value in AJMiranda and Nacional. Through farinograph and alveographyc analysis it was found that FariRamos has a tenacious gluten, but AJMiranda and Nacional had a balanced gluten, yet all of them can be classified as medium flours. Bread making with a mix of FariRamos, AJMiranda and Nacional flours and incorporating preservative food additives revealed the highest shelf-life (11-days) with methyl p-hydroxybenzoate [0.05 %] and benzoic acid [0.1 %], but the colour of the breads showed a relationship of intensity of white colour that depended on the additive used. At the end of the shelf-life, molds of the Eurotium, Trichoderma and Cladosporium genera developed in the bread. It was concluded that the chemical and technological approach applied in the characterization of the flour varieties, can be directly used to define the quality and shelf-life in the bakery industry, allowing the establishment of minimum commercialization prices.

Calcium is a crucial nutrient for bone development and the normal functioning of the circulatory system, whereas its deficiency can trigger the development of osteoporosis and rickets. On the other hand, Solanum tuberosum L. is one of the most important staple food crops worldwide and is a primary component of the human diet. Accordingly, using this staple food, this study aims to develop a technical itinerary for Ca biofortification of cv. Agria. As such, an itinerary of Ca biofortification was promoted throughout the respective production cycle. Seven foliar sprays with CaCl2 or chelated calcium (Ca EDTA) were used at concentrations of 12 and 24 kg ha−1. The index of Ca biofortification and the related interactions with other chemical elements in the tuber were assessed. It was found that, relative to the control at harvest, Ca content increased 1.07–2.22 fold (maximum levels were obtained with 12 kg ha−1 Ca-EDTA). Ca(EDTA) at a concentration of 24 kg ha−1 showed the second-highest levels in Ca, S and, P content. By adding CaCl2, it was also possible to identify a tendency of increasing contents (in Ca, K, S, and P) when the spraying concentration increased (12 kg ha−1 to 24 kg ha−1). Outside of the Ca higher content, dry weight, height, diameter, and the colorimetric parameter L of the tubers did not vary significantly, but minor changes occurred in the colorimetric parameters Chroma and Hue. It was concluded that Ca(EDTA) could trigger a more efficient Ca biofortification of Agria potato tubers with the additional enrichment of K, S, and P.

In the human body, about 53% of Mg is involved in the development and maintenance of bone and other calcified tissues, although it also has a physiological role in protein synthesis, muscle and nerve functions, blood glucose control and blood pressure regulation. Nevertheless, Mg deficiency triggers electrolyte disturbance that can result in multiple symptoms, namely, tremors, poor coordination, muscle spasms, loss of appetite, personality changes, and nystagmus. Complications may include seizures or cardiac arrest. To surpass Mg deficiency, biofortification is a strategy that can boost nutrient enhancement in food crops and can increase nutrient uptake and accumulation in the human body. Accordingly, this study aimed to develop a technical itinerary for Mg biofortification in Lycopersicum esculentum variety H1534. Tomato biofortification was promoted during the respective life cycles throughout six leaf applications with two different treatments (4% and 8%) of MgSO4, equivalent to 702 and 1404 g ha−1. At harvest, the biofortification indexes of Mg were 2.01- and 1.71-fold higher (after spraying with 4% and 8% MgSO4, respectively), with synergistic trends found only with Zn and Fe, whereas P did not vary significantly among treatments. Among treatments, relevant deviations could not be found for total soluble solids, height, diameter and color; however, minor changes in dry weight were detected. It can be concluded that the Mg biofortification of tomato variety H1534 can be performed to add nutritional value to tomato-based processed food products.

Grapes and wine are widely consumed in the world, yet their mineral content can be influenced by many factors such as the mineral composition of soils, viticulture practices and environmental conditions. In this context, considering the importance of Zn in the human physiology, the enrichment of Moscatel and Castelão grapes (white and red variety, respectively) with this nutrient prompted this study; further assessment is of tissue deposition and some implications for wine production. Using two foliar fertilizers (ZnO or ZnSO4, at 150, 450 and 900 g ha−1), decreases in net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance occurred in both varieties, suggesting that the physiological threshold of Zn toxicity was reached without visible symptoms. Following foliar spraying with both fertilizers, the content of Zn in leaves of the Castelão and Moscatel varieties showed higher values in all treatments relative to the control. Moreover, in grapes this tendency occurred only in Castelão. Concerning Cu, Fe, Ca, K, S and P, some significant differences also happened in leaves and grapes among treatments. At harvest, the indexes of Zn enrichment in grapes increased between 2.14- and 8.38-fold and between 1.02- and 1.44-fold in Castelão and Moscatel varieties, respectively. Zinc in the dried skin of Castelão only increased with ZnO and ZnSO4 sprayed at 900 g ha−1 (ca. 2.71- and 1.5-fold relative to the control, respectively), but in Moscatel a clear accumulation trend could not be found. The dry weight of grapes ranged (in %) between 16 and 23 (but did not vary significantly among treatments of each variety or in each treatment between varieties), and total soluble solids (e.g., mainly soluble sugars and proteins) and color parameters showed some significant variations. Through winemaking, the contents of Zn increased in both varieties (1.34- and 3.57-fold, in Castelão and Moscatel, respectively) and in all treatments, although non-significantly in Castelão. It is concluded that, to increase the contents of Zn in grapes without reaching the threshold of toxicity, ZnO or ZnSO4 can be used for foliar spraying of Castelão and Moscatel varieties until 900 g ha−1 and that winemaking augments the level of this nutrient.

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Using two rice genotypes as a test system (OP1505 and OP1509), the aim of this study was to develop an agronomic workflow for Se biofortification through foliar fertilization (with sodium selenate and sodium selenite). During the biofortification process, the state of the culture (slope, surface drainage, water lines and normalized differences vegetation index—NDVI), using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicles synchronized by global positioning system (GPS) was further assessed. It was found that after sowing, the water-drainage pattern became profoundly altered, following the artificial pattern, created by grooves between plots. NDVI values, compared to the control, did not show significant differences. These data were correlated with physiological monitoring during biofortification. Furthermore, it was found by eco-physiological data obtained through leaf gas exchanges, that the application of 300 g Se ha−1 did not show any toxicity effects in the biofortified plants. In the context of innovation, it was concluded that the application of precision agriculture techniques in conjunction with leaf-gas exchange measurements allow for an efficient monitoring of the experimental field conditions and the development of the rice cycle during the implementation of the biofortification workflow.

Calcium is essential for plants, yet as its mobility is limited, the understanding of the rate of Ca2+ accumulation and deposition in tissues of tubers, as well as the interactions with other critical nutrients prompted this study. To assess the interactions and differential accumulation of micro and macronutrients in the tissues of tubers, Solanum tuberosum L. varieties Agria and Rossi were cultivated and, after the beginning of tuberization, four foliar sprayings (at 8–10 day intervals) with CaCl2 (3 and 6 kg ha−1) or Ca(NO3)2 (2 and 4 kg ha−1) solutions were performed. It was found that both fertilizers increased Ca accumulation in tubers (mostly in the parenchyma tissues located in the center of the equatorial region). The functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus was not affected until the 3rd application but was somewhat affected when approaching the end of the crop cycle (after the 4th application), although the lower dose of CaCl2 seemed to improve the photochemical use of energy, particularly when compared with the greater dose of Ca(NO3)2. Still, none of these impacts modified tuber height and diameter. Following the increased accumulation of Ca, in the tubers of both varieties, the mean contents of P, K, Na, Fe, and Zn revealed different accumulation patterns. Moreover, accumulation of K, Fe, Mn, and Zn prevailed in the epidermis, displaying a contrasting pattern relative to Ca. Therefore, Ca accumulation revealed a heterogeneous trend in the different regions analyzed, and Ca enrichment of tubers altered the accumulation of other nutrients.

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