Cereal and pseudocereal grains are an important source of macro and microelements. Because of physiological, chemical and biological characteristics of soil and anthropogenic activities the lack of microelements is common in plants and therefore in human nutrition. Effective microelement biofortification of plants could mitigate our mineral malnutrition. Effects of grain priming with selenium (potassium selenate was used) and zinc (zinc chloride was used) and cold radiofrequency oxygen plasma treatment on germination and mineral composition of buckwheat sprouts were studied. Two buckwheat species were investigated, namely Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn.) and common buckwheat (Fagopryum esculentum Moench). Grain element composition was determined using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Grain priming biofortified buckwheat sprouts without affecting the grain germination. Selenium concentration in biofortified Tartary buckwheat sprouts was up to 0,184 mg kg-1 dry weight (dw) and zinc concentration reached up to 280 mg kg- 1 dw. The highest selenium concentration in biofortified common buckwheat sprouts was 0,255 mg kg- 1 dw and of zinc up to 323 mg kg-1 dw. Plasma treatment did not improve biofortification of buckwheat sprouts. Our results confirm that grain priming with selenium and zinc rich solutions is an effective way to increase selenium and zinc concentrations in common and Tartary buckwheat sprouts.
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