Selênio na micropropagação e na biofortificação de frutos de bananeira

Abstract

Banana biofortified with selenium can substantially improve human nutrition, reducing selenium deficiency in humans. In this study, laboratory tests were carried out, aiming to improve the micropropagation protocol of banana trees with the addition of selenium for the production of seedlings and its influence on the antioxidant system of plants. Six concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 μmol L-1) of selenium in the form of sodium selenate were tested in plants grown in vitro and acclimatized. It was concluded that, when applied at lower concentrations in the culture medium, selenium was the most suitable way to obtain plants with greater accumulation, without causing damage to phytotechnical variables and still yielding greater photosynthetic activity. In addition, assays were carried out in the field to investigate the agronomic biofortification of selenium (Se) on ‘Prata Anã’ banana trees (Clone Gorotuba) and also to evaluate the influence of application via soil, leaf, inflorescence and on selenate banana fruits (such as sodium selenate). Selenium doses positively influenced the content and accumulation of this element in banana fruits, as well as fruit quality parameters, such as firmness, soluble solids and acidity. It can be concluded that it is feasible to use the biofortification of ‘Prata Anã’ banana fruits (Clone Gorotuba) in the field, using sodium selenate as the main source, applied directly to the plant cluster.