Lentils Biofortified With Selenium

Biofortified lentils could address selenium deficiency, a risk factor for people exposed to arsenic-contaminated water.

AsianScientist (Aug. 12, 2014) – Scientists have developed a way of increasing the concentration of selenium in lentil seed, a concept known as biofortification. This research has been published in two papers in The Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Research International.

More than one billion people globally suffer from selenium deficiency due to low dietary intake in countries where soil selenium levels are low such as Australia, New Zealand and Bangladesh. Deficiency of this essential mineral and micronutrient has been linked to the possible incidence of some diseases, including some cancers, viral infections, suppression of HIV progression to AIDS, heart disease and male infertility.

In the present study, PhD student Mahmudur Rahman from Bangladesh and his supervisors Hackett Professor Kadambot Siddique and Professor William Erskine from the University of Western Australia analyzed selenium in the soil and lentil seeds in collaboration with North Dakota State University and Cornell University in the U.S.

In cooperation with the South Australian Research and Development Institute and Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Victoria the researchers showed that applying 40 grams per hectare (g/ha) of selenium directly on lentil plants during its reproductive stage increased its concentration in the seeds by more than ten times from 200 micrograms per kilogram (μg/kg) to 2772 μg/kg.

“Our research shows that without changing food habits, biofortified lentils would provide adequate dietary selenium to people living in countries where soil selenium levels are low, such as Australia, New Zealand and Bangladesh,” Prof. Erskine said. “This means that eating just 20 g of biofortified lentils can supply all of the recommended daily allowance of selenium.”

Seed selenium concentration in Bangladesh studies averaged 312 μg/kg compared with 200 μg/kg in Australia. In both countries, research showed that different varieties of lentils and the location they were grown in was a factor for seed selenium concentration.

“The research found that genetic variation in lentils does affect the amount of uptake and concentration of selenium and therefore there is an opportunity to breed and select for improved varieties with selenium seed concentration,” Mr. Rahman said.

“There is scientific evidence that a selenium-deficient diet may increase the risk of arsenic poisoning among people exposed to arsenic-contaminated water,” Prof. Siddique said. “In Bangladesh, more than 80 million people are at risk of drinking arsenic-contaminated water. Therefore, our research is particularly significant to Bangladesh where the average consumption of selenium is only half of the World Health Organization recommended level of 55 µg per person per day.”

The study in Bangladesh was conducted in collaboration with Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute.

The articles can be found at:
Rahman et al. (2014) Enhancing Selenium Concentration in Lentil (Lens culinaris subsp. culinaris) Through Foliar Application.
Rahman et al. (2013) Selenium Biofortification in Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus subsp. culinaris): Farmers’ Field Survey and Genotype × Environment Effect.

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Source: University of Western Australia; Photo: Adam/Flickr/CC.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.

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