Effect of Wheat Crop Nitrogen Fertilization Schedule on the Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Sprouts and Wheatgrass Obtained from Offspring Grains

Abstract

This work was aimed at investigating the effects of rate and timing of nitrogen fertilization applied to a maternal wheat crop on phytochemical content and antioxidant activity of edible sprouts and wheatgrass obtained from offspring grains. We hypothesized that imbalance in N nutrition experienced by the mother plants translates into transgenerational responses on seedlings obtained from the offspring seeds. To this purpose, we sprouted grains of two bread wheat cultivars (Bologna and Bora) grown in the field under four N fertilization schedules: constantly well N fed with a total of 300 kg N ha−1; N fed only very early, i.e., one month after sowing, with 60 kg N ha−1; N fed only late, i.e., at initial shoot elongation, with 120 kg N ha−1; and unfertilized control. We measured percent germination, seedling growth, vegetation indices (by reflectance spectroscopy), the phytochemical content (total phenols, phenolic acids, carotenoids, chlorophylls), and the antioxidant activity (by gold nanoparticles photometric assay) of extracts in sprout and wheatgrass obtained from the harvested seeds. Our main finding is that grains obtained from crops subjected to late N deficiency produced wheatgrass with much higher phenolic content (as compared to the other N treatments), and this was observed in both cultivars. Thus, we conclude that late N deficiency is a stressing condition which elicits the production of phenols. This may help counterbalance the loss of income related to lower grain yield in crops subjected to such an imbalance in N nutrition.

Validation of low-cost reflectometer to identify phytochemical accumulation in food crops

“…Agronomic research efforts have assessed specific influences on crop phytochemical profiles including variety selection 39 , 40 , farm management 41 – 43 , nutrient availability 44 , 45 , as well as insect and pathogen pressure 46 , 47 . As part of our investigation, we collected crop samples from wide range of management practices, soil types and environmental conditions, assessing the antioxidant, phenolic, and protein content of specific cultivars (i.e., lettuce, carrots, and small grains).…”

Validation of Low-cost Reflectometer to Identify Phytochemical Accumulation in Food Crops

“…Agronomic research efforts have assessed speci c in uences on crop phytochemical pro les including variety selection [38,39], farm management [40][41][42], nutrient availability [43,44], as well as insect and pathogen pressure [45,46]. As part of our investigation, we collected crop samples from wide range of management practices, soil types and environmental conditions, assessing the antioxidant, phenolic, and protein content of speci c cultivars (i.e., lettuce, carrots, and small grains).…”

The fate of nitrogen from different sources in a rice-wheat rotation system – A 15N labeling study

“…In agricultural production, N plays a dominant role in the growth and development of wheat ( González-Cencerrado et al., 2020 ). In the rice-wheat rotation cultivation system, proper nitrogen application could improve the photosynthetic physiological potential of wheat by enhancing the synthesis of chlorophyll in leaves, which was conducive to photosynthesis and nutrient accumulation of crops ( Falcinelli et al., 2022 ; Sharma et al, 2022 ). In addition, nitrogen has the potential to promote tillering and earing of wheat ( Benincasa et al., 2017 ; Zörb et al., 2018 ).…”