Abstract
Aims
Selenium (Se) as selenate shares similarities with sulfate in transport and assimilation by plants. Uptake and assimilation of Se might be affected by S and vice-versa, which could affect Se and S concentration in plant tissues, and metabolic pathways such as biosynthesis of sugars, amino acids, and storage proteins. This study aimed to evaluate Se and S combination on cowpea plants under field conditions.
Methods
The experimental design was a 4 × 4 interaction between four rates of Se (0, 10, 25, and 50 g ha− 1) and four rates of S (0, 15, 30, and 60 kg ha− 1) in two consecutive years of cowpea cultivation. Concentrations of Se, S, total sugars, sucrose, total free amino acids, and storage proteins in plant tissue were measured.
Results
The Se x S interaction did not affect cowpea yield or growth. Antagonistic effects of S on Se concentrations in leaves and seeds were observed mainly for the second crop season. Selenium did not decrease S concentrations in leaves and seeds of cowpea plants. The combination of 25 g Se ha− 1 and 30 kg S ha− 1 provided the greater concentrations of total sugars. Interaction between Se and S was associated with greater sucrose, amino acids, and storage proteins concentrations in cowpea seeds.
Conclusions
The Se and S interaction did not impair plant growth but application of S decreased Se content in cowpea. Further studies are needed to better understand the physiological roles of Se and S combination in producing primary metabolic compounds.
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Funding
To São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (FAPESP) for VMS doctoral research with financial resources (process number 18/18936-6).
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André Rodrigues dos Reis idealized the study and provided supervision to the project. Vinicius Martins Silva performed the field experiment, lab analysis and wrote the first manuscript draft. Lolita Wilson and Scott D, Young provided technical support and background on lab analysis and results interpretation. Martin R. Broadley and Philip J. White provided intellectual background and support in the project idealization. All authors read and commented previous versions of the manuscript to improve it. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Silva, V.M., Wilson, L., Young, S.D. et al. Interaction between sulfur and selenium in agronomic biofortification of cowpea plants under field conditions. Plant Soil 486, 69–85 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-022-05480-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-022-05480-8