Selenium biofortification and antioxidant activity in lettuce plants fed with selenate and selenite

S.J. Ramos, V. Faquin, L.R.G. Guilherme, E.M. Castro, F.W. Ávila, G.S. Carvalho, C.E.A. Bastos and C. Oliveira
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S.J. Ramos: Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
V. Faquin: Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Brazil
L.R.G. Guilherme: Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Brazil
E.M. Castro: Biology Department, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Brazil
F.W. Ávila: Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Brazil
G.S. Carvalho: Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Brazil
C.E.A. Bastos: Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Brazil
C. Oliveira: Biology Department, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Brazil

Plant, Soil and Environment, 2010, vol. 56, issue 12, 584-588

Abstract: Selenium is an important element associated with enhancement of antioxidant activity in plants, microorganisms, animals, and humans. In Brazil, the information on Se in agricultural crops is lacking, though there are indications that low levels of Se are consumed by the population. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions with pots containing 3 l of nutritive solution in a completely randomized factorial design, with seven Se concentrations (0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 µmol/l) and two forms of Se (sodium selenate - Na2SeO4 and sodium selenite - Na2SeO3), with six replicates. The application of Se as selenate at low concentrations is more appropriate for lettuce biofortification because it favors shoot biomass growth and Se levels in the shoot biomass. Selenium in both forms had two effects on lettuce plant metabolism: at low doses it acted as an antioxidant and enhanced plant growth, whereas at higher levels it reduced yield.

Keywords: selenate; selenite; antioxidant enzymes; biofortification (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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DOI: 10.17221/113/2010-PSE

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