Articles
Biofortification of Ocimum basilicum L. plants with selenium
Article number
1242_98
Pages
663 – 670
Language
English
Abstract
Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is an aromatic annual plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family, cultivated and utilized throughout the world.
Basil has a culinary value, and pharmaceutical properties.
The aromatic oil extracted from its leaves has antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.
Selenium (Se) is an essential element for humans, and acts as antioxidant and anticarcinogenic agent.
Since healthy nutrient plant compounds are more bioavailable than compounds contained in food supplements, biofortification of fruiting and leafy vegetables with Se is a good way to increase consumption and supplementation of Se by humans.
Further, Se appears to be effective in delaying fruit ripening and plant senescence, thus decreasing postharvest losses due to enhanced antioxidation.
We investigated the effect of Se addition on production and quality traits of Ocimum basilicum L. ‘Tigullio’. Two experiments were conducted on sweet basil seedlings hydroponically grown under greenhouse conditions at rate of 0 (control), 0.5, 1, 2, 4 mg Se L‑1. Selenium was added to the nutrient solution as sodium selenate.
In order to evaluate the growth, physiology, and nutritional value of basil plants the following parameters were determined at harvest time: plant biomass, antioxidant capacity, total phenols, rosmarinic acid, nitrate, macro- and micronutrients, total chlorophyll and total carotenoid.
Our results showed that the addition of selenium significantly and linearly increased the Se content in basil.
In general, selenium did not affect the plant biomass and the quality of product.
The amount of Se accumulated in plants could provide the rational Se intake for human nutrition in accordance with the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) guidelines.
Basil has a culinary value, and pharmaceutical properties.
The aromatic oil extracted from its leaves has antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.
Selenium (Se) is an essential element for humans, and acts as antioxidant and anticarcinogenic agent.
Since healthy nutrient plant compounds are more bioavailable than compounds contained in food supplements, biofortification of fruiting and leafy vegetables with Se is a good way to increase consumption and supplementation of Se by humans.
Further, Se appears to be effective in delaying fruit ripening and plant senescence, thus decreasing postharvest losses due to enhanced antioxidation.
We investigated the effect of Se addition on production and quality traits of Ocimum basilicum L. ‘Tigullio’. Two experiments were conducted on sweet basil seedlings hydroponically grown under greenhouse conditions at rate of 0 (control), 0.5, 1, 2, 4 mg Se L‑1. Selenium was added to the nutrient solution as sodium selenate.
In order to evaluate the growth, physiology, and nutritional value of basil plants the following parameters were determined at harvest time: plant biomass, antioxidant capacity, total phenols, rosmarinic acid, nitrate, macro- and micronutrients, total chlorophyll and total carotenoid.
Our results showed that the addition of selenium significantly and linearly increased the Se content in basil.
In general, selenium did not affect the plant biomass and the quality of product.
The amount of Se accumulated in plants could provide the rational Se intake for human nutrition in accordance with the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) guidelines.
Authors
M. Puccinelli, F. Malorgio, R. Maggini, I. Rosellini, B. Pezzarossa
Keywords
selenate, hydroponics, sweet basil, nutrition, antioxidant
Groups involved
- Division Temperate Tree Nuts
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts
- Division Ornamental Plants
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Division Plant Genetic Resources, Breeding and Biotechnology
- Division Sustaining Horticulture in a Changing World
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Postharvest and Quality Assurance
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture
- Division Landscape and Urban Horticulture
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
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