Geochemistry of selenium, barium, and iodine in representative soils of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest.

The Amazon rainforest is a heterogeneous ecosystem and its soils exhibit geographically variable concentrations of trace elements. In this region, anthropic activities - e.g., agriculture and mining - are numerous and varied, and even natural areas are at risk of contamination by trace elements, either of geogenic or anthropogenic origin. A reliable dataset of benchmark values for selenium (Se), barium (Ba), and iodine (I) concentrations in soils is needed for use as a reference in research and public policies in the region. In this study, 9 selected sites in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest within areas represented by Oxisols and Ultisols were assessed for relevant soil physicochemical characteristics, along with the concentrations of total Se (SeTot), total Ba (BaTot), and sequentially-extracted soluble Se (SeSol) and adsorbed Se (SeAd) in 3 different soil layers (0-20, 20-40, and 40-60 cm). In addition, organically bound-Se (SeOrg) and total I (ITot) concentrations in the surface layer (0-20 cm) were measured. Soil Se concentrations (SeTot) were considered safe and are likely a result of contributions of sedimentary deposits from the Andes. Available Se (SeSol + SeAd) accounted for 4.5% of SeTot, on average, while SeOrg in the topsoil accounted for more than 50% of SeTot. Barium in the western Amazon (state of Acre) and central Amazon (Anori, state of Amazonas) exceeded national prevention levels (PVs). Furthermore, the average ITot in the studied topsoils (5.4 mg kg-1) surpassed the worldwide mean. Notwithstanding, the close relationship found between the total content of the elements (Se, Ba, and I) and soil texture (clay, silt, and sand) suggests their geogenic source. Finally, our data regarding SeTot, BaTot, and ITot can be used to derive regional quality reference values for Amazon soils and also for updating prevention (PV) and investigation (IV) values established for selected elements by the Brazilian legislation.

Multi-elemental Analysis and Health Risk Assessment of Commercial Yerba Mate from Brazil.

Consumption of yerba mate occurs mostly in the form of hot infusion (chimarrão). Water solubility of elements found in commercialized yerba mate is needed to establish nutritional value and risks associated with potentially toxic elements. In this study, yerba mate products marketed in three Brazilian states (Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul) for chimarrão were analyzed. Total (dry product) and hot water-soluble concentrations of Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cs, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Se, Sr, Ti, V, and Zn were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Total concentrations of the ten top elements followed the order of K>Ca>Mg>Mn>P>S>Al>Fe>Ba>Zn. The most soluble elements were B, Cs, Ni, Rb, and K, with values greater than 80%. The lowest water-soluble elements were V, Fe, and Ti (values <10%), followed by Ba, Cd, Al, As, Sr, Ca, and Pb with solubility between 10 and 20%. Although total Cd levels in yerba mate products were often above those permitted by South America legislation, estimated daily consumption intake indicated no risk associated with the chimarrão beverage. Manganese was the micronutrient with the highest total and soluble levels in yerba mate, which surpassed recommended daily intake values when considering a consumption amount of 50 g day-1 of yerba mate as chimarrão. The consumption of yerba mate is safe and contributes to intake of nutrients. The Cd and Pb reference values of yerba mate products sold in South America should be revised.

Application of sodium selenate to cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) increases shoot and grain Se partitioning with strong genotypic interactions.

BACKGORUND: Cowpea is a crop widely used in developing countries due its rusticity. Besides its rich genotypic variability, most breeding programs do not explore its potential to improve elements uptake. Selenium (Se) is a scarce element in most soils, resulting in its deficiency being common in human diets. This study aimed to evaluate the interaction between biofortification with Se and genotypic variation in cowpea, on the concentrations of Se in roots, leaves + stem and grains. METHODS: Twenty-nine cowpea genotypes were grown in a greenhouse in the absence (control) and presence of Se (12.5 µg Se kg-1 soil) as sodium selenate, in fully randomized scheme. The plants were cultivated until grains harvest. The following variables were determined: roots dry weight (g), leaves + stems dry weight (g), grains dry weight (g), Se concentration (mg kg-1) in roots, leaves + stems and grains, and Se partitioning to shoots and grains. RESULTS: Selenium application increased the Se concentration in roots, leaves + stems and grains in all genotypes. At least twofold variation in grain Se concentration was observed among genotypes. Selenium application did not impair biomass accumulation, including grain dry weight. Genotype "BRS Guariba" had the largest Se concentration in grains and leaves + stems. Genotype MNC04-795 F-158 had the largest partitioning of Se to shoots and grain, due to elevated dry weights of leaves + stems and grain, and high Se concentrations in these tissues. CONCLUSION: This information might be valuable in future breeding programs to select for genotypes with better abilities to accumulate Se in grain to reduce widespread human Se undernutrition.

Agronomic biofortification of cowpea with zinc: Variation in primary metabolism responses and grain nutritional quality among 29 diverse genotypes.

Dietary zinc (Zn) deficiency is widespread globally, and is particularly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) is consumed widely in LMICs due to its high protein content, and has potential for use in agronomic biofortification strategies using Zn. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Zn biofortification on grain nutritional quality of 29 cowpea genotypes. Zn application did not increase cowpea yield. In 11 genotypes sucrose concentration, in 12 genotypes total sugar concentration, and in 27 genotypes storage protein concentration increased in response to Zn supply. Fifteen genotypes had lower concentrations of amino acids under Zn application, which are likely to have been converted into storage proteins, mostly comprised of albumin. Phytic acid (PA) concentration and PA/Zn molar ratio were decreased under Zn application. Six genotypes increased shoot ureides concentration in response to Zn fertilization, indicating potential improvements to biological nitrogen fixation. This study provides valuable information on the potential for Zn application to increase cowpea grain nutritional quality by increasing Zn and soluble storage protein and decreasing PA concentration. These results might be useful for future breeding programs aiming to increase cowpea grain Zn concentrations through biofortification.

Elemental composition of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil.) under low input systems of southern Brazil.

Elemental composition of food can be used to determine nutritional potential as well as guiding legislation for establishing maximum acceptable limits (MAL) of metals in consumption products. This study aimed to determine the elemental background levels of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil.) under varied geologic formations in southern Brazil. Mature leaves were randomly collected from four wild-grown plants at thirty native sites in three states and analyzed for 32 elements. Since yerba mate is not washed to obtain the final product, leaves were analyzed with and without washing to assess foliar deposition. Concentration values of As, Ag, Be, Cs, Cr, Li, Se, Tl, U, and V were near detection limits, indicating low potential as a source and/or toxicity to the consumer. Washing decreased concentrations of Fe, Ti, As, Mo, Li, V, and Pb, suggesting atmospheric contributions/dust deposition. Concentrations of Mn (very high), Zn (high), and Ni (high) demonstrated that leaves could be an important source of these elements. Soil parent material affected elemental composition with basalt providing higher concentrations of Mn, P, and Co while Rhyodacite provided higher concentrations of K and Na. All samples exhibited Pb values below the MAL of 0.6 mg kg-1, but 23% of washed leaves and 20% of unwashed leaves had Cd concentrations close to or above the MAL value of 0.4 mg kg-1. Study results indicated that Cd MAL values for yerba mate in southern Brazil should be reassessed.

Agronomic biofortification with selenium impacts storage proteins in grains of upland rice.

BACKGROUND: Selenium (Se) is an essential element for humans and animals. Rice is one of the most commonly consumed cereals in the world, so the agronomic biofortification of cereals with Se may be a good strategy to increase the levels of daily intake of Se by the population. This study evaluated the agronomic biofortification of rice genotypes with Se and its effects on grain nutritional quality. Five rates of Se (0, 10, 25, 50, and 100 g ha -1 ) were applied as selenate via the soil to three rice genotypes under field conditions. RESULTS: Selenium concentrations in the leaves and polished grains increased linearly in response to Se application rates. A highly significant correlation was observed between the Se rates and the Se concentration in the leaves and grains, indicating high translocation of Se. The application of Se also increased the concentration of albumin, globulin, prolamin, and glutelin in polished grains. CONCLUSION: Biofortifying rice genotypes using 25 g Se ha -1 could increase the average daily Se intake from 4.64 to 66 µg day-1 . Considering that the recommended daily intake of Se by adults is 55 µg day-1 , this agronomic strategy could contribute to alleviating widespread Se malnutrition. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Minerals and potentially toxic elements in corn silage from tropical and subtropical Brazil

Our aim was to assess the mineral composition of corn silages produced in four states of Brazil: Goiás, Minas Gerais, Paraná, and Santa Catarina. In total, seventy-three samples were analyzed. Total element content was extracted by HNO3 and H2 O2 microwave-assisted digestion, and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to determine concentration. Of the 31 elements analyzed (Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Se, Sr, Ti, Tl, U, V, and Zn), 21 had concentrations above equipment detection limits. No elements reached the maximum tolerable concentration, but concentrations of Ca (0.14-0.15%), Cu (3.4-5.6 mg kg−1), P (0.13-0.16%), S (0.06-0.08%), and Zn (13-19 mg kg−1) were below the adequate concentration for good nutritional balance. The strong and consistent correlation observed between Fe and Ti in silage samples indicated contamination by soil. Mean concentrations of Cu, Mn, Mo, P, S, and Zn were different among states, and canonic analyses successfully discriminate samples according to their state of origin. Minerals from corn silage should be considered when formulating balanced cattle diets. To ensure silage quality, farmers must adopt strategies that reduce contamination by soil during the ensiling process.(AU)

Natural variation of arsenic fractions in soils of the Brazilian Amazon.

Arsenic (As) in native soils of the Amazon rainforest is a concern due to its likely origin from the Andean rivers, which transport loads of sediments containing substantial amounts of trace elements coming from the cordilleras. Yet, unveiling soil As baseline concentrations in the Amazon basin is still a need because most studies in Brazil have been performed in areas with predominantly high concentrations and cannot express a real baseline value for the region. In this study, 414 soil samples (0-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm layers) were collected from different sites throughout the Amazon basin - including native Amazon rainforest and minimally disturbed areas - and used to determine total and extractable (soluble + available) As concentrations along with relevant soil physicochemical properties. Descriptive statistics of the data was performed and Pearson correlation supported by a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) provided an improved understanding of where and how As concentrations are influenced by soil attributes. Total As concentration ranged from 0.98 to 41.71 mg kg-1 with values usually increasing from the topsoil (0-20 cm) to the deepest layer (40-60 cm) in all sites studied. Considering the proportional contribution given by each fraction (soluble and available) on extractable As concentration, it is noticeable that KH2PO4-extractable As represents the most important fraction, with >70% of the As extracted on average in all the sites studied. Still, the extractable fractions (soluble + available) correspond to ~0.24% of the total As, on average. Total, available, and soluble As fractions were strongly and positively correlated with soil Al3+. The PCA indicated that soil pH in combination with CEC might be the key factors controlling soil As concentrations and the occurrence of each arsenic fraction in the soil layers.

Agronomic biofortification of cowpea with selenium: effects of selenate and selenite applications on selenium and phytate concentrations in seeds.

BACKGROUND: Selenium (Se) is a nutrient for animals and humans, and is considered beneficial to higher plants. Selenium concentrations are low in most soils, which can result in a lack of Se in plants, and consequently in human diets. Phytic acid (PA) is the main storage form of phosphorus in seeds, and it is able to form insoluble complexes with essential minerals in the monogastric gut. This study aimed to establish optimal levels of Se application to cowpea, with the aim of increasing Se concentrations. The efficiency of agronomic biofortification was evaluated by the application of seven levels of Se (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 60 g ha-1 ) from two sources (selenate and selenite) to the soil under field conditions in 2016 and 2017. RESULTS: Application of Se as selenate led to greater plant Se concentrations than application as selenite in both leaves and grains. Assuming human cowpea consumption of 54.2 g day-1 , Se application of 20 g ha-1 in 2016 or 10 g ha-1 in 2017 as selenate would have provided a suitable daily intake of Se (between 20 and 55 µg day-1 ) for humans. Phytic acid showed no direct response to Se application. CONCLUSION: Selenate provides greater phytoavailability than selenite. The application of 10 g Se ha-1 of selenate to cowpea plants could provide sufficient seed Se to increase daily human intake by 13-14 µg d-1 . © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Analysis of ripening-related gene expression in papaya using an Arabidopsis-based microarray.

BACKGROUND: Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a commercially important crop that produces climacteric fruits with a soft and sweet pulp that contain a wide range of health promoting phytochemicals. Despite its importance, little is known about transcriptional modifications during papaya fruit ripening and their control. In this study we report the analysis of ripe papaya transcriptome by using a cross-species (XSpecies) microarray technique based on the phylogenetic proximity between papaya and Arabidopsis thaliana. RESULTS: Papaya transcriptome analyses resulted in the identification of 414 ripening-related genes with some having their expression validated by qPCR. The transcription profile was compared with that from ripening tomato and grape. There were many similarities between papaya and tomato especially with respect to the expression of genes encoding proteins involved in primary metabolism, regulation of transcription, biotic and abiotic stress and cell wall metabolism. XSpecies microarray data indicated that transcription factors (TFs) of the MADS-box, NAC and AP2/ERF gene families were involved in the control of papaya ripening and revealed that cell wall-related gene expression in papaya had similarities to the expression profiles seen in Arabidopsis during hypocotyl development. CONCLUSION: The cross-species array experiment identified a ripening-related set of genes in papaya allowing the comparison of transcription control between papaya and other fruit bearing taxa during the ripening process.