Renato de Mello Prado

By Renato de Mello Prado and Gustavo Caione

Part of the book: Soil Fertility

By Renato de Mello Prado, Flávio José Rodrigues Cruz and Raphael Leone da Cruz Ferreira

Selenium is an essential mineral element to humans and animals because it is an important component of selenoproteins that are important for functioning of the metabolism. Because of poor soil conditions in various regions of the world, the enrichment of edible plants with selenium via the biofortification strategy has been implemented. However, selenium in the context of plant mineral nutrition appears twofold due to its biofortifying character at low concentrations and toxicity at high concentrations. In this sense, understanding of the functional mechanisms in which selenium is involved is important, ranging from its absorption and assimilation in organic compounds to its beneficial or harmful effects, considering its role in food security and human health. Therefore, this chapter addresses the key aspects related to selenium in the soil-plant-man environment and the narrow limit between biofortification and toxicity, as well as the main scientific findings on this mineral element in the biochemical, physiology and plant nutrition contexts.

Part of the book: Superfood and Functional Food

By Flávio José Rodrigues Cruz, Renato de Mello Prado, Guilherme Felisberto, Águila Silva Santos and Rafael Ferreira Barreto

Although it is not an element with structural function in plants, potassium (K) is demanded in considerable quantities by plants due to multifunctional role in plant physiology and metabolism. Nevertheless, the interface of plant mineral nutrition and food safety evidences needs for a better understanding of functional mechanisms of this nutrient in plants, taking into account its management in hydroponic cultivation and food production with nutritional quality. Thus, the nutritional content of K in vegetables is indicative of post-harvest and nutritional quality. This fact is important considering that modern life has induced increased consumption of processed foods whose preparation implies reduction of K levels and increase of Na levels, with the consequent low K intake and appearance of diseases related to insufficient intake. Therefore, the present chapter aimed to address main nutritional, physiological, and biochemical aspects of K in a context of hydroponic plant production and importance of potassium nutrition to human health.

Part of the book: Potassium