Enhancing Organic Selenium Forms in Alfalfa Forage Through Inorganic Selenium Foliar Application : Insights from Laboratory and Field Studies Using X-Ray Spectroscopy
Sánchez-Martín, María-Jesús (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Química)
Gaggiotti, Mónica (Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria)
Simonelli, Laura (ALBA Laboratori de Llum de Sincrotró)
Marini, Carlo (ALBA Laboratori de Llum de Sincrotró)
Marini, Federico (Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza")
Boada, Roberto (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Química)
Llugany i Ollé, Mercè (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia)
Valiente Malmagro, Manuel (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Química)
Céccoli, Gabriel (Instituto de Ciencias Agropecuarias del Litoral)
Stoffel, María Micaela (Universidad Nacional del Litoral (Argentina))
Viltres Portales, Marcia (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Química)
Picco, Juan Manuel (Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela)
Guevara, María Gabriela (Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata)
Muñoz, Fernando Felipe (Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata)

Date:	2025
Abstract:	Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient, yet its deficiency remains a global concern. This study investigates the biofortification of alfalfa (Medicago sativa cv. ProINTA Super Monarca GR9) via foliar Se application to enhance Se accumulation and transformation into bioavailable organic forms. A controlled environment experiment in a plant growth chamber and a one-season open-field trial (January 2023, Argentina) were conducted. Treatments included sodium selenate (Se(VI)), sodium selenite (Se(IV)), and a 1:1 mixture, applied at 45 and 90 g Se ha, with and without the biostimulant BIOFORGE. Treated plants exhibited increased Se content, correlating with the applied doses. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) confirmed that most inorganic Se was transformed into organic Se forms, with Se(IV) treatments yielding the highest concentrations of organic Se species such as selenocysteine (SeCys) and selenomethionine (SeMet). Open-field trials showed a complete conversion of Se, though total Se accumulation was lower than in controlled conditions. Se treatments did not affect forage quality or biomass production. The biostimulant slightly reduced Se uptake but did not compromise biofortification. These results highlight Se(IV) as the optimal treatment for alfalfa biofortification, presenting a sustainable strategy to enhance dietary Se intake through functional foods.
Grants:	European Commission 101007630
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Biofortification ; Selenate ; Selenite ; Direct speciation ; Synchrotron
Published in:	Agronomy, Vol. 15, Issue 3 (March 2025) , art. 580, ISSN 2073-4395

DOI: 10.3390/agronomy15030580

22 p, 2.3 MB

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > The ALBA Synchrotron
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles