Selenium Speciation in Se-Enriched Soybean Grains from Biofortified Plants Grown under Different Methods of Selenium Application

Abstract

Since soybean is widely cultivated around the world and has a high protein content, it is a great nutritional vehicle for increasing the dietary uptake of selenium (Se). Several studies have evaluated biofortification with Se through fertilizer application in several crops. However, it is not clear how each method and source affect the total Se content or Se species in soybean grains. This work aimed to assess the total Se content and Se speciation in Se-enriched soybean grains produced under different Se application methods in the field. The treatments consisted of Se application (soil or foliar), using organic or inorganic Se sources at 10 g ha−1 or 80 g ha−1, in two genotypes. The results showed that all treatments with inorganic Se (soil and foliar) increased the Se content in grains compared with the control. More than 80% of the total Se in grains was present as selenomethionine (SeMet), and the speciation was affected by the Se source and the method of application. The treatments using inorganic Se, applied via soil or foliar, produced the highest content of Se as SeMet in soybean grains. Finally, we propose that the preservation of the Se species in products derived from soybean grains be evaluated as the following step.

Biofortification of baby leafy vegetables using nutrient solution containing selenium

“…Se concentrations found in leafy vegetables grown in the highest Se concentration were similar to those found in other vegetables species, such as lettuce or chicory ( Chicorium intybus L.) cultivated with 0.5 mg L −1 Se 20 . Similar Se accumulations were also observed in edible parts of cabbage, garlic, onion, radish, or spinach 29,30 . Recently, biofortification has been successfully carried out on wild species, such as Rumex acetosa L., Plantago coronopus L., and Portulaca oleracea L 31 …”

“…20 Similar Se accumulations were also observed in edible parts of cabbage, garlic, onion, radish, or spinach. 29,30 Recently, biofortification has been successfully carried out on wild species, such as Rumex acetosa L., Plantago coronopus L., and Portulaca oleracea L. 31 The RDA for Se has been defined to be 55 μg day −1 for adults. 32 In human nutrition, Se deficiency has been associated with diets with less than 0.1 mg Se kg −1 in foods.…”

Foliar Selenium Application to Reduce the Induced-Drought Stress Effects in Coffee Seedlings: Induced Priming or Alleviation Effect?

“…The higher Se content in the plants supplied with Se was expected, since Se supplementation in coffee plants via foliar application (and other plant species) has been studied in the literature [19,27]. Selenium can be supplied via seed, soil, and foliar application routes [54,55]. However, when applied at the same rate, foliar applications have been considered the most efficient way to increase Se content in plant tissue [54,56,57].…”

“…Selenium can be supplied via seed, soil, and foliar application routes [54,55]. However, when applied at the same rate, foliar applications have been considered the most efficient way to increase Se content in plant tissue [54,56,57]. Since an active chemical chain builds the Se assimilation pathway, the addition of Se to stressed plants (+4AOS and +8AOS) possibly consumed the energy used to trigger metabolic responses that was supposed to be used to overcome the stress, making the plants unable to keep the Ψw at higher levels in the leaves.…”

Foliar selenium biofortification of soybean: the potential for transformation of mineral selenium into organic forms

“…Solutions of both selenite and selenate salts sprayed on leaves have been shown to be safe and effectively absorbed by crops such as rice, wheat and lettuce ( Meenakshi et al., 2010 ), soybean ( Silva et al., 2023 ), chickpea ( Poblaciones et al., 2014a ), and maize and beans ( Ngigi et al., 2019 ). Selenates and selenites can enter the leaves through the cuticle, stomata, trichomes, stigmata and hydathodes ( Wang et al., 2016 ), and are then transported by the symplastic pathway to the chloroplasts, where they are metabolized to seleno-amino acids through the sulphate pathway ( Lidon et al., 2019 ).…”