Biofortification of chervil with selenium

Abstract

Relevance. Production of functional food with high levels of antioxidant status and selenium is essential for human protection against viral and cardiovascular diseases as well as cancer.Methods. Evaluation of the efficiency in foliar sodium selenate biofortification (25. 50 and 75 mg Se/L) was achieved on three chervil genotypes.Results. Intervarietal differences in biofortification level was demonstrated: from 15.5 to 31.1 for 25 mg Se/L dose; from 36.9 to 64.6 for 50 mg Se/L dose; and from 72.9 to 130 for 75 mg Se/L dose. At the chosen doses, selenium supply did not affect significantly the yield, antioxidant properties and photosynthetic content of chervil. Total antioxidant activity was in the range from 30 to 42 mg GAE/g d.w., phenolics content from 9 to 13 mg GAE/g d.w, flavonoids from 5 to 12 mg-eq quercetin/g d.w., ascorbic acid from 33 to 66 mg/100 g fresh w. High levels of carotene were a typical feature of Se fortified and non-fortified chervil. A direct correlation was recorded between phenolics content and total antioxidant activity (r=+0.954, P<0.01), and between water soluble compounds and nitrates accumulation (r=+0.920, P<0.01). Biofortification with selenium did not affect significantly the mineral content of plants. Consumption of 100 g of fresh chervil leaves, fortified with selenium, provides from 50 to 75% of the adequate selenium consumption level and from 16 to 20% of potassium. Taking into account that both selenium and potassium normalize heart activity, the new functional food product may be recommended for prophylactics and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and for the human selenium status optimization.

Joint Biofortification of Plants with Selenium and Iodine: New Field of Discoveries

“…Supposedly, the application of lower Se–I concentrations should be used for sprouts compared to mature plants. Indeed, the same phenomenon was noted for Se biofortification of chervil: 25 mg Se L −1 concentration was optimal for mature plants [ 37 , 62 ] and toxic for chervil sprouts and only 1 mg Se L −1 did not affect the sprout biomass.…”

Iodine and Selenium Biofortification of Chervil Plants Treated with Silicon Nanoparticles

“…The data reported in Table 1 indicate higher shoot/root biomass under I supplementation compared to Se application (3.4-3.5 and 2.7 times increase in shoots and 3.1 and 1.6 times increase in root biomass, respectively). Interestingly, higher concentrations of sodium selenate applied to plants in our previous research (25,50, 75 mg L −1 compared to 10 mg L −1 in the present work) did not improve chervil growth [27], thus suggesting the higher effectiveness of low Se doses to Anthriscus cerefolium L. In the present conditions of Se and I biofortification, foliar application of nano-Si gave additional benefits causing shoot and especially root growth stimulation (Figure 1), proving 8. Participation of Se, I and Si in nitrogen metabolism was recorded through accumulation levels (Figure 2).…”

“…The non-significant effect of Se on photopigment biosynthesis may relate to the low applied concentration of this element. Indeed, the statistically significant beneficial effect of Se on chlorophyll and carotene accumulation in chervil leaves was previously recorded at concentrations equal to or higher than 50 mg Se L −1 [27], proving the participation of Se in chlorophyll biosynthesis [39]. The effect of I on photosynthesis is not predictable, as previously reported [40,41].…”

“…Nitrates were assessed using ion-selective electrodes of an ionomer Expert-001 (Econix Inc., Moscow, Russia) [27]. Five grams of fresh chervil shoots were homogenized with 50 mL of distilled water.…”

Effect of Foliar Application of Sodium Selenate on Mineral Relationships in Brassicaceae Crops

“…In this respect, a previous investigation of the Se-Si-Cd relationship in Chinese cabbage revealed the importance of Si/Se antioxidant defense improvement for alleviating Cd stress, with a Taking into account the relative stability of the Si levels under Se supply (Table 5), it may be assumed that the differences in the ability of Brassica oleracea plants to accumulate Se depend on the initial content of Si. The previously recorded increase of Se content in the chervil, fortified with Se under Si inorganic forms and nano Si supply [21,51,52], may be attributed to Si-micro-dose growth stimulation, which did not affect plant Si concentrations. However, the possible connection of this phenomenon with the well-known protective effect of Si against environmental stresses [53] needs further investigation.…”