Abstract
Around the world, maize cultivation is an essential part of food systems for humans and animals. Effective reactions against the occurrence of diseases related to the deficiency of elements in the human diet are related to the biofortification of plant species of broad importance, including maize. The enrichment of maize with iodine is difficult due to the poor transport of this element to the plant’s generative organs. In marine algae, vanadium is part of the structure of the enzyme iodine-dependent peroxidase (vHIPO) that catalyzes the uptake of cellular iodine (I) and its volatilization as I2. The relationship between iodine and vanadium in higher plants, however, is not well-known. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of vanadium fertilization and the interactions of organic and inorganic iodine compounds with vanadium under soil application. In the pot experiment, NH4VO3 was applied to the soil in two doses of 0.1 and 1 μmol·dm−3 both separately and in combination, with the following iodine compounds: 5-iodosalicylic acid (5-ISA), 2-iodobenzoic acid (2-IBeA), potassium iodide (KI), and potassium iodate (KIO3). The iodine compounds were also applied independently to vanadium, while in the control combination, fertilization was performed without I and V. Iodine compounds were applied with doses calculated using the molar mass of this element (i.e., 10 μmol·dm−3 I). The highest level of iodine accumulation in grains (regardless of fertilization with V) was obtained after the application of organic compounds 5ISA and 2IBeA. A lower dose of vanadium (0.1 μmol·dm−3) in combination with KI and KIO3 increased the accumulation of iodine in leaves, roots, and grains compared to the combination without the additional application of vanadium. The combined application of vanadium in both doses with 2-IBeA most effectively stimulated the transport and accumulation of iodine to the maize grain. Under the combined application of 5-ISA and vanadium (10 μmol·dm−3), we observed the stimulating effect of this organic iodine compound on the accumulation of vanadium in the roots as well as the antagonistic effect of vanadium in combination with 5-ISA on the accumulation of iodine in the roots, leaves, and maize grain. Vanadium accumulated mainly in the roots, where the content of this element increased proportionally to its dose. The soil application of 5-ISA increased the total sugar content and vitamin C content in the grain.
Highlights
Cereal production is strategically important in many countries around the world
5-iodosalicylic acid (5-ISA) alone, compared to the control, we found a reduction in Mg content (−14% Mg) (Table 4), with the lowest amount related to the lowest Mo content (−41%) (Table 5)
The effective biofortification of corn grain into iodine was possible despite the poor mobility of this element into the generative organs of plants, including the grains of cereal plants, as described in the literature
Summary
Cereal production is strategically important in many countries around the world. Grain production is dominated by cereals which constitute about 50% of all crops [1]. Maize is an essential part of the food systems of humans and livestock. Vegetables, and fruits are the main sources of macro- and microelements, phenolic compounds, and vitamins necessary for human and animal organisms to properly function. Only a balanced and varied diet can effectively prevent the diseases and ailments related to element and vitamin deficiencies [3,4,5]. The biofortification of major crops via micronutrients using agrotechnical solutions is a cost-effective and sustainable approach to solve the deficiencies of these elements in the human diet [1,3,4]
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