Mineral nutrition, biofortification and enzymatic activity of cabbage cultivars treated with selenium

Abstract

Increasing the concentration of selenium in plants, via fertilization and / or breeding has been studied in various countries, since the element can contribute to a reduction in the incidence of prostate, colon and lung cancer, reinforces the strength of the immune system against viral infections such as HIV, and is many enzymes and proteins in mammalian component. In Brazil, studies of this nature are rare, even with the target low selenium intake by the population. The objective of this study is to evaluate concentrations and sources of selenium in cabbage cultivars ('Phoenix', the group of green cabbage, and 'Red Dynasty', the group of red cabbage), upon growth, nutrition, biofortification, aspects physiological, and activity of antioxidant enzymes. The experimental design was a randomized blocks, in scheme factorial 2 x 5 x 2, with two cabbage cultivars (Phoenix and Red Dinasty), five concentrations of the nutrient solution (0 , 5 , 15 , 30 and 60 ¼M L- 1 ) and two forms of selenium (sodium selenate - Na2SeO4 and sodium selenite - Na2SeO3·5H2O) , with four replications, totaling 80 plots. Each experimental unit shall consist of three plants of each cultivar in cultivation channel. The data will be submitted to analysis of variance and average concentrations will be submitted to the study of polynomial regression, using the program AGROESTAT.