Biofortification efficiency with magnesium salts on the increase of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity in snap beans

Eficiência da biofortificação com sais de magnésio no aumento de compostos bioativos e capacidade antioxidante em feijão-vagem

ABSTRACT:

Biofortification of food crops is implemented through the application of mineral fertilizers, to improve the levels of essential mineral elements for human nutrition. Magnesium is a key macronutrient in crop production and quality; however, worldwide, it is the most limiting macronutrient in agriculture. Magnesium plays an important role in manipulating physiological and biochemical processes in plants. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of biofortification with magnesium chloride and sulfate on the accumulation of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity in snap bean cv. Strike. Two sources of Magnesium were applied via edaphic route: Magnesium chloride and magnesium sulfate at doses of 0, 50, 100 and 200 ppm during 2018 in Mexico. Accumulation of bioactive compounds (total phenols, total flavonoids and total anthocyanins) and antioxidant capacity in snap bean fruits were evaluated. Results obtained indicate that the concentration of total flavonoids, total anthocyanins and antioxidant capacity in the edible parts of snap beans were higher in the MgSO₄ treatment than in the MgCl₂ treatments, exceeding 30, 59 and 6% respectively. This is one of the first studies on the edaphic agronomic biofortification of Mg⁺ and its effect on nutraceutical quality in snap bean. An interesting result is that MgSO₄ produced high concentrations of anthocyanins in edible snap beans. These results can be applied as a new strategy to reduce malnutrition and improve the health of the population in poor urban and rural communities in developing countries.

Key words:
anthocyanins; antioxidant capacity; edaphic biofortification; flavonoids