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Selenium and Sulfur Content and Activity of Associated Enzymes in Selected Potato Germplasm

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Abstract

Potato plants are being supplemented with selenium (Se) to enrich tubers with Se for health benefits. Se is not an essential nutrient and interferes with the metabolism of sulfur (S) in plants. The objective of the present investigation was to study the activities of Se-independent glutathione peroxidase (Se-Ind-GPx), Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-Dep-GPx), and thioredoxin reductase (TRxR) enzymes in stored potato tubers grown on a non-Se-enriched field; and assess their relationship with tuber Se and S levels. The results indicate that these enzyme activities and the Se and S levels in the tubers were significantly influenced by genotype. Se-Dep-GPx activities were influenced by Se levels in the tubers. S content of tubers of all genotypes tested were below the critical nutrition concentration. In spite of this deficiency, the levels of S (which were very high in comparison with Se) influenced the activities of Se-Ind-GPx and TRxR in the tubers. Tubers of some of the genotypes tested can supply more than the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of Se to adult humans.

Resumen

Las plantas de papa están siendo suplementadas con selenio (Se) para enriquecer los tubérculos con Se para beneficio de la salud. El Se no es un nutrimento esencial e interfiere con el metabolismo del azufre (S) en plantas. El objetivo de la presente investigación fue estudiar las actividades de las enzimas glutatión-peroxidasa independiente de Se (Se-Ind-GPx), glutatión-peroxidasa dependiente de Se (Se-Dep-GPx) y thioredoxin reductasa (TRxR) en tubérculos de papa almacenados provenientes de un campo no enriquecido con Se; y analizar su relación con los niveles de Se y S en el tubérculo. Los resultados indican que las actividades de estas enzimas y los niveles de Se y S en tubérculos fueron influenciados significativamente por el genotipo. Las actividades de Se-Dep-GPx se influenciaron por los niveles de Se en los tubérculos. El contenido de S en tubérculos de todos los genotipos probados estuvo debajo de la concentración crítica de nutrición. A pesar de esta deficiencia, los niveles de S (que fueron muy altos en comparación de Se) influenciaron las actividades de Se-Ind-GPx y TRxR en los tubérculos. Tubérculos de algunos de los genotipos probados pueden surtir mas de lo recomendado para la dieta de Se en humanos adultos.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Jim Self, Soil, Water, and Plant Testing Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins for estimating Se and S in the tuber samples; and Dr. Robert Davidson for proof-reading this manuscript. This work is partially supported by a grant from the Colorado Department of Agriculture through the USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (award #10991) and Colorado Potato Administrative Committee Area II.

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  1. San Luis Valley Research Center, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Colorado State University, 0249 East County Road 9N, Center, CO, 81125, USA

    Venu Perla, David G. Holm & Sastry S. Jayanty

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  1. Venu Perla
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Perla, V., Holm, D.G. & Jayanty, S.S. Selenium and Sulfur Content and Activity of Associated Enzymes in Selected Potato Germplasm. Am. J. Pot Res 89, 111–120 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-011-9232-1

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