ObjectivesThis article reported the influences of selenium application on the total and different forms of selenium concentration in wheat grains, which would clarify the potential of biofortification of Se in wheat through fertilization.
MethodsPot experiment was conducted and 110 wheat cultivars were collected as materials. The nano-Se was applied. Three levels of Se 0 (CK), 100 (Se100) and 150 mg/kg soil (Se 150) were designed and applied uniformly into soil before wheat planting. The 100-kernel weight was investigated. The concentrations of Se, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn and S were measured using ICP. Using LC-UV-AFS method, the forms of Se were identified and quantified in the cultivars with total Se content in top ten, which were under treatment of Se150. Fifty-nine cultivars were randomly selected for paste viscosity evaluation using Rapid ViscoAnalyser. Data were analyzed using softwares Matlab2014 and SPSS16.
ResultsThe mean 100-kernel weight for CK, Se100 and Se150 was 3.78, 4.11, and 3.70 g, respectively, and the total Se concentration was averaged 2.00, 12.46 and 17.35 mg/kg, respectively. Se was mainly existed in organic forms, of which selenomethionin (SeMet) was the predominant form, and then were methylated selenocysteine (MeSeCys) and selenocysteine (SeCys). Trace amounts of inorganic forms of Se4+ and Se6+ were also identified in some cultivars. Application of nano-Se fertilizer had either synergistically or antagonistically effects on the accumulation of the tested nutrients, but did not on the flour paste viscosity properties, which were mainly determined by genotypes of the cultivars.
ConclusionsFertilization of nano-Se markedly increased the concentration of Se in wheat grains. Se in grains predominantly presented in organic forms of selenomethionin. Application of Se 100 mg/kg soil is effective in increment of 100-kernel weight, and application of Se 150 mg/kg soil will reduce it. Se fertilization had not significant impact on wheat flour paste viscosity properties.
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