Foliar Sprays of Multi-Nutrient Fertilizer Containing Selenium Produce Functional Tomato Fruits with Higher Shelf Life
Everton Geraldo de Morais,
Maila Adriely Silva,
Anyela Pierina Vega Quispe,
Gilson Gustavo Lucinda Machado,
Debora Teixeira Prado,
Pedro Antônio Namorato Benevenute,
Jucelino de Sousa Lima,
Gustavo Ferreira de Sousa,
Eduardo Valério de Barros Vilas Boas,
Luiz Roberto Guimarães Guilherme
Affiliations
Everton Geraldo de Morais
Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, University Campus, P.O. Box 3037, Lavras 37203-202, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Maila Adriely Silva
Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, University Campus, P.O. Box 3037, Lavras 37203-202, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Anyela Pierina Vega Quispe
Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, University Campus, P.O. Box 3037, Lavras 37203-202, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Gilson Gustavo Lucinda Machado
Department of Food Science, Federal University of Lavras, University Campus, P.O. Box 3037, Lavras 37203-202, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Debora Teixeira Prado
Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, University Campus, P.O. Box 3037, Lavras 37203-202, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Pedro Antônio Namorato Benevenute
Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, University Campus, P.O. Box 3037, Lavras 37203-202, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Jucelino de Sousa Lima
Department of Biology, Institute of Natural Sciences, Federal University of Lavras, University Campus, P.O. Box 3037, Lavras 37203-202, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Gustavo Ferreira de Sousa
Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, University Campus, P.O. Box 3037, Lavras 37203-202, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Eduardo Valério de Barros Vilas Boas
Department of Food Science, Federal University of Lavras, University Campus, P.O. Box 3037, Lavras 37203-202, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Luiz Roberto Guimarães Guilherme
Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, University Campus, P.O. Box 3037, Lavras 37203-202, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Selenium (Se) is a nutrient whose daily intake is often below the recommended levels in people. Biofortification with Se is a method to increase this intake by raising the Se concentration in tomato fruits, an effect dependent on sources and modes of application. Additionally, Se application can promote the enhancement of other compounds in tomato fruits, altering their metabolism, which may increase the fruit’s shelf life. This study aimed to determine how different strategies of applying a multi-nutrient fertilizer containing Se (SeMNF) can increase the Se content and other bioactive compounds and enhance the shelf life of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruits. Different foliar fertilization strategies involving the use of SeMNF were evaluated in field trials conducted on commercial tomato crops. Indeterminate-growth tomatoes were used, and different Se doses and application strategies were tested. Harvesting was conducted in three phases according to fruit ripening. Each harvested fruit was assessed for the Se content, macro and micronutrients, total phenolic compounds, vitamin C, antioxidant activity, carotenoids, pH, total titratable acidity, and total soluble solids in tomato fruits. Doses of 15 g ha−1 of Se, split into three applications, increased the Se content in the fruits at 1 and 2 harvests. The application of SeMNF at Se doses above 10 g of Se ha−1 increased firmness, days of ripening, and the nutritional quality of the tomatoes (higher contents of carotenoids (+39%), lycopene (+33%), antioxidant activity (+16%), total phenolic compounds (+38%), and vitamin C (+14%) in a dose-dependent effect of the application strategy used. These results contributed to an increase in the shelf life of tomatoes, consequently reducing food waste.
