A Case Study on Minerals Accumulation in Grains and Flours of Bread Wheat Fertilized with ZnSO₄ and Tecnifol Zinc

Abstract

In the present day, there is an increasing demand for foods capable of fulfilling the nutritional needs of consumers, leading to a search for food products with a nutrient content able to promote a healthier lifestyle. In this study, an agronomic biofortification itinerary of Triticum aestivum L. (cv. Paiva) was conducted in an experimental field, located in Beja, Portugal, comprising foliar fertilization with ZnSO4 and Tecnifol Zinc in three different concentrations for each fertilizer along the plant cycle. The mineral quantification (S, K, Ca, and Zn) of whole bread wheat flour and refined bread wheat flour was measured using an X-ray fluorescence analyzer (XRF analyzer), whereas the micro-energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence system (μ-EDXRF) was used to quantify the minerals within the different regions of the wheat grain (embryo, endosperm, and vascular bundle). All the minerals presented lower values in the refined flour relative to the whole bread wheat flour, in which K had higher values followed by S and finally Ca with the lower values in both types of flour. The different minerals were spread around the various regions of the grain; however, they were more concentrated in the embryo and vascular bundle. The values are similar for both fertilizers, with a slight difference regarding Zn values, namely increasing with ZnSO4. To sum up, as the different minerals tend to accumulate in the embryo and vascular bundle, the whole bread wheat flour presents the richest option, promoting a healthier diet for consumers.

Keywords

• bread wheat grains
• foliar fertilization
• mineral quantification
• refined bread wheat flour
• whole bread wheat flour