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X-ray fluorescence microscopy of zinc localization in wheat grains biofortified through foliar zinc applications at different growth stages under field conditions

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Abstract

Aim

Biofortification of wheat with zinc (Zn) through foliar Zn application has been proposed as an agronomic strategy to increase grain Zn concentration, which could serve as a nutritional intervention in regions with dietary Zn deficiency.

Methods

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was biofortified through foliar Zn applications at different growth stages. The concentration of Zn and associated micronutrient in harvested whole grains was determined by ICP-OES. Synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) was then used to investigate the localization of Zn and associated micronutrients in cross sections of these grains.

Results

The concentration of Zn and other micronutrients (Mn, Fe, and Cu) was higher in grains treated with foliar Zn during grain-filling (early milk/dough) than those treated at stem elongation. The increase in Zn concentration of wheat grain with foliar application during grain-filling can be attributed to the intense localization of Zn in the aleurone layer, modified aleurone, crease tissue, vascular bundle, and endosperm cavity, and to a modest localization in endosperm, which is the most dominant grain tissue. These tissues and the Zn they contain are presumed to remain after milling and can potentially increase the Zn concentration in wheat flour.

Conclusions

By using XFM, it was shown that foliar Zn spray represents an important agronomic tool for a substantial Zn enrichment of different fractions of wheat grain, especially the endosperm. Further investigation of the chemical speciation of Zn in the endosperm is recommended to assess Zn bioavailability in harvested whole grain of wheat that has been biofortified through different timing of foliar Zn application.

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Abbreviations

XFM:

X-ray fluorescence microscopy

ICP-OES:

Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy

LA-ICP-MS:

Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy

SIMS:

Secondary ion mass spectroscopy

PIXE:

Photon induced X-ray emission

XANES:

X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy

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Acknowledgments

This research was undertaken on the X-ray Fluorescence Microscopy (XFM) beamline at the Australian Synchrotron, Victoria Australia. The sectioning of the grains with the vibratome was carried out at the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics (ACPFG), which was facilitated by Dr Gwen Mayo. Ms Casey Doolette helped in preparing the transverse sections. This study was partially supported by the HarvestPlus program (www.harvestplus.org). Financial support by The Mosaic Co to the Fertilizer Technology Research Centre is duly acknowledged. The authors will like to thank Enzo Lombi for his useful comments during the draft manuscript review.

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  1. Babasola Ajiboye

    Present address: Baba Agrotech Inc, 1110 11 St SW, Suite 401, Calgary, AB, T2R 1S5, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fertilizer Technology Research Centre, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia

    Babasola Ajiboye, Samuel P. Stacey & Michael J. McLaughlin

  2. Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Istanbul, 34956, Turkey

    Ismail Cakmak

  3. Australian Synchrotron, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia

    David Paterson, Martin D. de Jonge & Daryl L. Howard

  4. Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Soil Science, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey

    Ayfer A. Torun

  5. Karamanoglu Mehmetbey University, Karaman, 70100, Turkey

    Nevzat Aydin

  6. Sustainable Agriculture Flagship, CSIRO Land and Water, Waite Campus, Urrbrae, SA, 5064, Australia

    Michael J. McLaughlin

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  1. Babasola Ajiboye
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Ajiboye, B., Cakmak, I., Paterson, D. et al. X-ray fluorescence microscopy of zinc localization in wheat grains biofortified through foliar zinc applications at different growth stages under field conditions. Plant Soil 392, 357–370 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2467-8

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