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13 May 2020 Soil and foliar zinc biofortification of broccolini: effects on plant growth and mineral accumulation
Angelica Rivera-Martin, Martin R. Broadley, Maria J. Poblaciones
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Abstract

Millions of people have Zn-deficient diets, so Zn-biofortified crops could prevent such deficiency. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of agronomic Zn biofortification of broccolini – a new hybrid crop variety derived from a cross between kalian cabbage and broccoli. Plants were grown in pots using a Zn deficient soil. Four fertiliser treatments were tested: (1) control; (2) soil application of 5 mg ZnSO4•7H2O kg–1 soil; (3) foliar application at the early flowering stage of 0.5% (w/v) ZnSO4•7H2O; (4) combined soil and foliar treatments. Florets were harvested in four sequential harvests. There was a decrease in both growth and leaf composition of Zn, Ca, Fe and Mg. Soil Zn application increased floret production. There were increases in the Zn concentration stem+leaves and florets of 12- and 2.5-fold in foliar and soil+foliar treatments respectively. PA:Zn molar ratios decreased under both foliar and soil+foliar treatments. Boiling reduced Zn concentration by 40%, along with a decrease of other mineral nutrients. A soil+foliar treatment can increase both plant growth and Zn concentration in broccolini, and boiled 100 g portion of biofortified florets fertilised at rates in this study would deliver ∼49 mg Zn, a 46% increase than in the non-biofortified broccolini.

© CSIRO 2020
Angelica Rivera-Martin, Martin R. Broadley, and Maria J. Poblaciones "Soil and foliar zinc biofortification of broccolini: effects on plant growth and mineral accumulation," Crop and Pasture Science 71(5), 484-490, (13 May 2020). https://doi.org/10.1071/CP19474
Received: 18 November 2019; Accepted: 26 March 2020; Published: 13 May 2020
KEYWORDS
bioavailability
Brassica
nutrient uptake
phytate
zinc
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