Abstract
An agronomic itinerary for Se biofortification of two rice cultivars (Ariete and Ceres) through foliar fertilization with sodium selenate and sodium selenite with different concentrations (25, 50, 75 and 100 g Se.ha−1), was implemented in experimental fields. The selenium toxicity threshold was not exceeded, as shown by the eco-physiological data obtained through leaf gas exchanges. The highest Se enrichment in paddy grains was obtained with selenite for both cultivars, especially at the highest doses, i.e., 75 and 100 g Se.ha−1, with approximately a 5.0-fold increase compared with control values. In paddy grains, Zn was the most affected element by the treatments with Se with decreases up to 54%. When comparing the losses between rough and polished grains regardless of the cultivars, Se species and concentrations, it was observed that only Cu, Mg and Zn exhibited losses <50%. The remaining elements generally had losses >70%. The loss of Se is more pronounced in Ceres cultivar than in Ariete but rarely exceeds 50%. The analysis by µ-EDXRF showed that, in Ariete cultivar, Se is mostly homogeneously distributed in the grain regardless of any treatments, while in Ceres cultivar, the Se distribution seems to favor accumulation in the periphery, perhaps in the bran.
Highlights
Selenium is an essential element in the human diet, its presence in plants is scarce [1]
All Setreated plants showed significant increases in stomatal conductance to water vapor, in particular in those of the 100 g Se.ha−1 of Na2SeO3 treatment which doubled its value. This gs rise was paralleled with significant transpiration (E) increases, whereas instantaneous water use efficiency was reduced significantly for both treatments and cultivars
The cultivar Ceres showed a similar pattern of changes to that of Ariete as regards the leaf gas exchanges
Summary
Selenium is an essential element in the human diet, its presence in plants is scarce [1]. The application of Se in the form of sodium selenate [2,3] or sodium selenite [4] is a useful and well-known method to increase the Se concentration in food crops. Studies show that foliar spraying with Se is more viable and effective than its application to the soil [5]. The effectiveness of foliar feeding was seen after evaluation of the Se rice grain concentrations which increased to 0.471–0.640 μg g−1, after using a Se enriched fertilizer at a rate of 20 g of Se.ha−1, in the forms of sodium selenite and sodium selenate, when the average Se content of regular polished rice in China is 0.025 ± 0.011 μg g−1 [9]
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