Articles
Synergistic effects of rootstocks and selenium on eggplant yield and health compounds
Article number
1453_25
Pages
179 – 186
Language
English
Abstract
Vegetable grafting is an effective technique to safeguard yield and quality under various growing conditions.
In this respect, there is expanding scientific interest in exploiting new species as potential rootstocks for vegetables to upsurge sustainability and resilience of production systems.
Concomitantly, selenium (Se) biofortification has been indicated as an appropriate approach to enhance the dietary value of vegetables and increase Se daily intake in humans.
However, the identification of the key factors involved in the biofortification processes, such as genotype, chemical form, type and method of application, remains largely unknown.
Thus, the current study evaluated the combined effect of potential rootstocks and Se biofortication (0.0, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 µmol L‑1) on ‘Gloria’ F1 eggplant growth, yield and fruit quality traits.
Selenium at 2.0 μmol L‑1 enhanced total fruit yield in ungrafted, self-grafted and grafted plants as compared to the control.
Marketable yield was positively affected by Se-biofortification and S. torvum rootstock.
Selenium at 4.0 μmol L‑1 gave the highest fruit firmness, whereas plants grafted onto S. torvum or S. aethiopicum rootstocks showed an increase in soluble solids content.
Plants supplied with the highest Se dosage had the highest chlorogenic acid and ascorbic acid fruit concentrations.
Furthermore, plants grafted onto S. torvum or S. paniculatum rootstocks and supplied with 4.0 μmol Se L‑1 showed the highest Se fruit concentration.
Overall, Se-biofortification at 4.0 μmol L‑1 and grafting onto S. torvum or S. paniculatum improved eggplant plant performance, nutritional and functional properties.
In this respect, there is expanding scientific interest in exploiting new species as potential rootstocks for vegetables to upsurge sustainability and resilience of production systems.
Concomitantly, selenium (Se) biofortification has been indicated as an appropriate approach to enhance the dietary value of vegetables and increase Se daily intake in humans.
However, the identification of the key factors involved in the biofortification processes, such as genotype, chemical form, type and method of application, remains largely unknown.
Thus, the current study evaluated the combined effect of potential rootstocks and Se biofortication (0.0, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 µmol L‑1) on ‘Gloria’ F1 eggplant growth, yield and fruit quality traits.
Selenium at 2.0 μmol L‑1 enhanced total fruit yield in ungrafted, self-grafted and grafted plants as compared to the control.
Marketable yield was positively affected by Se-biofortification and S. torvum rootstock.
Selenium at 4.0 μmol L‑1 gave the highest fruit firmness, whereas plants grafted onto S. torvum or S. aethiopicum rootstocks showed an increase in soluble solids content.
Plants supplied with the highest Se dosage had the highest chlorogenic acid and ascorbic acid fruit concentrations.
Furthermore, plants grafted onto S. torvum or S. paniculatum rootstocks and supplied with 4.0 μmol Se L‑1 showed the highest Se fruit concentration.
Overall, Se-biofortification at 4.0 μmol L‑1 and grafting onto S. torvum or S. paniculatum improved eggplant plant performance, nutritional and functional properties.
Authors
F. Mancuso, B.B. Consentino, L. Vultaggio, P. Bellitto, G.G. La Placa, T. Ntanasi, G. Ntatsi, S. La Bella, L. Sabatino
Keywords
S. melongena, greenhouse cultivation, Se-enrichment, grafting
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