Projects / Programmes
Impact of selenium on the yield of vegetables and crop plants
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.03.00 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Plant production |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T430 |
Technological sciences |
Food and drink technology |
selenium, yield, vegetables, photosynthesis
Researchers (9)
Organisations (3)
Abstract
Selenium is an essential trace element for higher animals and human. Recently it has been found that selenium could be of metabolic importance in agricultural plants (involved in their antioxidative processes). It may protect plants by mitigating UV-B radiation stress. In Slovenia and other countries of the central Europe there are regions with Se deficiency in human diet, due to the lack of selenium available in the soil for plants. The aim of this study is to evaluate the pumpkin seed, pumpkin fruit, buckwheat seed and cichory leaves from Se foliar treated plants, and whether they could be used as better source of the trace element selenium in comparison to materials from untreated plants. Field experiments will be performed mainly with the model plants pumpkin, buckwheat and cichory. Plants will be scored for physiological characteristics, vitality and yield estimation. Rutin and quercetin content in buckwheat and polyphenol content in pumpkins will be analysed by HPLC and UV-B absorbing substances by a spectrophotometer. Selenium determination is based on hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS). In this research project undergraduate and graduated students will be involved, including the young researcher Polona Smrkolj, M. Sc.
