Agronomic Biofortification Increases Concentrations of Zinc and Storage Proteins in Cowpea Grains

Caroline Figueiredo Oliveira, Matheus Gomes Silva, Gutierres Nelson Silva, Karina Renostro Ducatti, Maurisrael de Moura Rocha, André Rodrigues Reis, Flávio Henrique Silveira Rabêlo, José Lavres and Elcio Ferreira Santos ()
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Caroline Figueiredo Oliveira: Instituto Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Nova Andradina 79750-000, MS, Brazil
Matheus Gomes Silva: Instituto Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Nova Andradina 79750-000, MS, Brazil
Gutierres Nelson Silva: Instituto Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Nova Andradina 79750-000, MS, Brazil
Karina Renostro Ducatti: Instituto Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Nova Andradina 79750-000, MS, Brazil
Maurisrael de Moura Rocha: Embrapa Meio-Norte, Teresina 64008-780, PI, Brazil
André Rodrigues Reis: Departamento de Engenharia de Biosssitemas, São Paulo State University, Tupã 17602-496, SP, Brazil
Flávio Henrique Silveira Rabêlo: Departamento de Ciência do Solo, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras 37203-202, MG, Brazil
José Lavres: Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba 13416-000, SP, Brazil
Elcio Ferreira Santos: Instituto Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Nova Andradina 79750-000, MS, Brazil

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: Zinc (Zn) is crucial for both plant metabolism and human nutrition, with its deficiency being a global health concern. Strategies to increase its availability in food, such as agronomic biofortification, have gained prominence. This study evaluated the impact of foliar spraying of Zn [at full bloom stage: 0 (control) and 600 g ha −1 , as ZnSO 4 ⋅7H 2 O] on the nutritional quality of cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) grains. Field experiments involving 20 cowpea genotypes were carried out over two seasons in a Typic Quartzipsamment under a no-tillage system. The photosynthetic responses of cowpea plants and the concentrations of Zn, amino acids, sucrose, total sugars, and storage proteins (glutelin, albumin, prolamin, and globulin) in grains were analyzed. All genotypes showed enrichment of Zn in grains in response to ZnSO 4 ⋅7H 2 O application compared to untreated plants. Foliar spraying of ZnSO 4 ⋅7H 2 O during initial grain filling was ideal for increasing Zn concentration in grains and improving plant physiological processes. Additionally, Zn fertilization led to higher concentrations of storage and total amino acids and proteins in the grains, supporting the rational application of Zn in cowpea production to improve the nutritional quality of grains and increase plant productivity.

Keywords: Vigna unguiculata; total sugars; amino acids; grain quality; zinc (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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