Biofortificação agronômica com selênio em Tropaeolum majus L.

Abstract

The edible flowers bring innovation to the gastronomic market, adding color and flavor to the dishes, as well as being a new and sustainable form of income for small farmers in the country. However, there are few studies on the production and biofortificat ion of edible flowers. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the application of sodium selenate with biofortification effect in capuchinha (Tropaeolum majus L.) for edible purposes, in semi-hydroponic production. The treatments were arranged in a factorial scheme 5x3, being 5 nutritive solutions containing different doses of selenium and 3 types of plants: Type 1. Type 2 and Type 3. Plants were evaluated for chlorophyll content, dry mass and the characteristics of part such as: number of leaves, diameter of fourth leaf, height of plant, number and diameter of flowers. Selenium contents were determined. The results indicated that concentrations of up to 4 μmol L -1 of selenium were beneficial for the capuchinha plants, being that the higher doses caused toxicity and death of plants. The dose of 2 μmol L -1 is considered ideal for the crop, as it provides the development of plants / flowers with superior agronomic characteristics and the content of Se found in the leaves was satisfactory for biofortification.