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Effects of a foliar spray of selenite or selenate at different growth stages on selenium distribution and quality of blueberries
Author(s) -
Li Mingfeng,
Zhao Zhuqing,
Zhou Jiajie,
Zhou Daowen,
Chen Boning,
Huang Liqiang,
Zhang Zhihua,
Liu Xinwei
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.9004
Subject(s) - selenium , pomace , selenate , anthocyanin , vaccinium , cultivar , chemistry , horticulture , food science , botany , biology , organic chemistry
Abstract BACKGROUND Foliar spraying of selenium (Se) has increasingly been applied to improve Se concentrations in grain crops, although little information is available about the properties of Se‐enriched fruits. In the present study, selenium distribution in blueberry and Se effect on blueberry quality were investigated by foliar spraying selenite or selenate (200 g ha −1 ) on two blueberry cultivars (Bluecrop and Northland) during the young fruit or coloring stage. RESULTS Selenium concentration in blueberry was mainly affected by cultivar and spray stage relative to the Se source. Northland was 1.3‐ to 1.5‐fold higher than Bluecrop with respect to Se enrichment. Se treatment at the young fruit stage induced a 1.5‐ to 2.3‐fold increase compared to that at the coloring stage with respect to the Se concentration of blueberry. Additionally, selenium was mainly stored in pomace, with an accumulative distribution ratio of 89.3–94.9%. The proportion of organic Se reached up to 77.0% in blueberry. Furthermore, the foliar application of Se significantly increased the anthocyanin concentration and the intact fruit rate of blueberry. CONCLUSION Se‐enriched blueberry can be used as a ‘functional food’. Because Se was mainly accumulated in the pomace, the consumption of blueberries as fresh fruit, dried fruit and jam can improve the efficiency of Se supplement. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry