Produção convencional, microgreen e baby leaf de rúcula biofortificada com selênio

Abstract

Selenium (Se) is a beneficial trace element for plants, as it contributes to the development and mass gain, and essential for humans, as it integrates glutathione peroxidase and other selenoproteins involved in cell protection. This nutrient is limited in Brazilian soils, thus, the accumulation in plants is reduced, which can cause a deficiency in animal cells. The agronomic biofortification of plants, especially leafy vegetables, including arugula, is a promising technique. Thus, the objective of this work was: (1) to test doses of selenium in arugula, (2) to evaluate the production of arugula biofortified with selenium at different growth stages and (3) to evaluate bioactive compounds from arugula biofortified with selenium. The study was carried out in two stages, in which the experimental design was used in randomized blocks, with five treatments and four replications. The first stage of the experiment had as treatments selenium doses (0.0; 15.0; 30.0; 45.0; and 60.0 μmol L-1 ), the second stage of this study had the adjusted doses of selenium as treatments, since the doses of the first stage had a negative effect on the different stages of arugula development: microgreen, baby leaf and adult plant. In the first stage, the doses tested reduced the production of plant biomass. In the second stage, the concentration of 5 µmol L-1 of Se increased the height and fresh mass of Baby leaf (5%, 6%) and adult (5%, 12.93%) arugula plants, which also provided in the adult plant an increase in the content of phenolic compounds (36%), antioxidant activity (42%) and a reduction in the content of ascorbic acid in all growth stages.