Agronomic biofortification of grape (Vitis labrusca L.) with selenium: physiological, transcriptional effects and nutritional quality of the fruit and juice

• Grant number: 23/04227-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• End date: August 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: André Rodrigues dos Reis
• Grantee: Nandhara Angélica Carvalho Mendes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Engenharia. Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Tupã. Tupã , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Selenium (Se) is a micronutrient for humans and animals and is considered a beneficial element for plants, whose intake occurs through the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and cereals. Despite its importance in human health, there is conclusive evidence of Se deficiency in Brazilian soils. The ingestion of Se by humans is closely related to its availability in the soil. Agronomic biofortification by applying fertilizers containing Se is an important strategy to supply it to plants, mitigating abiotic stresses such as drought and high temperatures, as well as promoting the production of biofortified foods. Grape consumption and their products take the space in the lives of Brazilians with vitamins and minerals, and radiation and high temperatures are the main abiotic stresses that compromise their productivity and quality in the Sub-Middle São Francisco River, in Norwest Brazil. Information on the agronomic biofortification of grapes with Se is scarce in the literature. The hypothesis of this study is that the application of Se can mitigate the formation of reactive oxygen species, providing greater protection of the photosynthetic apparatus and consequently causing a greater translocation of sugars and nutritional quality of the fruit, biofortified juice, and increased productivity. The objectives of this study are: - Evaluate the physiological response of grapevines in terms of antioxidant and photosynthetic metabolism, sugar profile (sucrose, glucose, fructose, mannitol, and sorbitol), and grape juice (phenolic composition, color evolution, and antioxidant contents). - Evaluate transcriptionally on a large scale suppressed and overexpressed genes as a function of Se application. Plants biofortified with Se are expected to have the greater photosynthetic capacity and better qualitative characteristics as raw material for juice production, which may lead to an increase in vine productivity. The results of this research can provide important information for the nutritional management of the vine, aiming at mitigating abiotic stress and increasing productivity, in addition to biofortified fruits and juices, which can improve human health. (AU)