The Biosynthesis, Accumulation of Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Response in <i>Lactuca sativa</i> L. Plants Inoculated with a Biofertilizer Based on Soil Yeast and Iron Nanoparticles
Daniela Berríos,
Javiera Nahuelcura,
Felipe González,
Fabiola Peña,
Pablo Cornejo,
José Pérez-Navarro,
Sergio Gómez-Alonso,
Antonieta Ruiz
Affiliations
Daniela Berríos
Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus BIOREN-UFRO, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
Javiera Nahuelcura
Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus BIOREN-UFRO, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
Felipe González
Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Mención Biología Celular y Molecular Aplicada, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Forestales, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
Fabiola Peña
Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus BIOREN-UFRO, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
Pablo Cornejo
Escuela de Agronomía, Facultad de Ciencias Agronómica y de los Alimentos, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Quillota 2260000, Chile
José Pérez-Navarro
Instituto Regional de Investigación Científica Aplicada, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 13001 Ciudad Real, Spain
Sergio Gómez-Alonso
Instituto Regional de Investigación Científica Aplicada, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 13001 Ciudad Real, Spain
Antonieta Ruiz
Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus BIOREN-UFRO, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
Lettuce is a vegetable that contributes vitamins, minerals, fibre, phenolic compounds and antioxidants to the human diet. In the search for improving production conditions and crop health, the use of microorganisms with plant growth-promoting capabilities, such as soil yeasts (PGPY), in conjunction with nanotechnology could offer sustainable development of agroecosystems. This study evaluated the synthesis of health-promoting bioactive compounds in lettuce under the application of soil yeast and an iron nanoparticle (NP-Fe2O3) encapsulated in alginate beads. Two yeast strains, Candida guillermondii and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, and a consortium of both yeasts were used in the presence and absence of Fe2O3-NPs. Phenolic compounds were identified and quantified via HPLC-ESI-Q-ToF and antioxidant activity. Ten phenolic compounds were identified, highlighting the chicoric acid isomer and two quercetin glycosides with high concentrations of up to 100 µg g−1 in treatments with C. guillermondii. Treatments with R. mucilaginosa and NPs-Fe2O3 presented an increase in antioxidant activity, mainly in TEAC, CUPRAC and DPPH activities in leaves, with significant differences between treatments. Therefore, the use of encapsulated soil yeasts is a viable alternative for application in vegetables to improve the biosynthesis and accumulation of phenolic compounds in lettuce and other crops.