Common wheat grains are characterised by low concentrations of Ca, K, and Mg, which can be partially removed with the bran during milling processes. This preliminary study investigated the effects of foliar fertilisation at the earing stage with nitrates of Ca, Mg, and K contemporarily, together with a small amount of urea and protein hydrolysate as potential carriers, in two contrasting common wheat varieties, i.e., Solehio (medium proteins content) and Vivendo (high proteins content). Based on the preliminary grain-to-straw concentration ratio of these minerals, two biofortification targets were applied in order to increase their grain contents by +20% and +40%, in comparison with untreated controls. Here, we demonstrate that the highest fertilisation dose was effective in increasing grain K by 13% and Mg by 16% in Vivendo, and Ca by 7% in Solehio, with no boosting effects of the co-formulants urea and protein hydrolysate. In addition to some qualitative benefits due to nitrates supply, negligible phytotoxicity symptoms were observed, as revealed by the NDVI vegetational index dynamics. Although the biofortification target was not fully achieved, this study firstly reports the possibility to increase at the same time Mg and K, and to a lower extent Ca in wheat grains. It is concluded that efficient multiple biofortification should consider a variety-depend response, while further studies are necessary to investigate the effects of different fertilisation timings and doses for improving the poor mineral translocation to the grains.

The SDHI fungicide Sedaxane has shown to efficiently control Rhizoctonia spp. growth and to possess biostimulant properties in cereal crops. As a first, the present study investigated its effectiveness as a seed treatment of the dicot species oilseed rape (Brassica napus var. oleifera). For this, seeds were treated with different fungicides: (i) the conventionally used active ingredient Thiram, (ii) Sedaxane, or (iii) Sedaxane in combination with Fludioxonil and Metalaxyl-M, and later sown in soil inoculated with Rhizoctonia solani. The resulting shoot and root growth from the treated seeds were recorded in early growth stages and the presence of Rhizoctonia DNA in the basal stem tissue was quantified. Here we demonstrate that all the fungicide treatments were effective in greatly reducing the presence of Rhizoctonia DNA, with Thiram confirming to have high fungicidal effects. Following seed treatment, shoot and root growth at the 2-leaf stage was reduced regardless of inoculation, indicating that the fungicides became phytotoxic, with particular respect to Thiram. In seedlings grown in inoculated soil, significant biostimulation of the roots was observed at the 4-leaf stage of treatments containing both Sedaxane alone and in a mixture. Leaf area was stimulated in control soil not inoculated with Rhizoctonia, likely due to improved PSII efficiency, stomatal conductance, and CO2 assimilation rate. Young oilseed rape seedlings are thus highly sensitive to seed treatments with these fungicides, and in particular to Thiram. The retardation in growth is quickly overcome by the 4-leaf stage however. We confirm that Sedaxane indeed possesses root biostimulant properties in oilseed rape, which are enhanced in combination with other fungicides. Such biostimulating properties impose its greatest effects under conditions of biotic stress.