Open Access

ARTICLE

Chitosan-Selenate Complex Improves Bioactive Profile and Antioxidant Response in Wheat Sprouts (Triticum aestivum L.)

Jazmín Montserrat Gaucin-Delgado¹, Cristian Oswaldo Solis-López², Pablo Preciado-Rangel³, Bernardo Espinosa-Palomeque⁴, Francisco Gerardo Veliz-Deras², Viridiana Contreras-Villarreal², Ricardo Israel Ramírez-Gottfried^5,*

1 Ingenieria en Biotecnología, Universidad Politécnica de Gómez Palacio (UPGOP). Carretera El Vergel-La Torreña km 0820, El Vergel, Gómez Palacio, 35120, Mexico
2 Postgrado en Ciencias en Producción Agropecuaria, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Periférico Raúl López Sánchez and Carretera Santa Fe S/N, Torreón, 27010, Mexico
3 Departamento de Horticultura, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Periférico Raúl López Sánchez and Carretera Santa Fe S/N, Torreón, 27010, Mexico
4 Agricultura Sustentable y Protegida, Universidad Tecnológica de Escuinapa, Camino al Guasimal S/N, Colonia Centro, Escuinapa de Hidalgo, 82400, Mexico
5 Departamento de Riego y Drenaje, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Periférico Raúl López Sánchez and Carretera Santa Fe S/N, Torreón, 27010, Mexico

* Corresponding Author: Ricardo Israel Ramírez-Gottfried. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Advances in Molecular Insights of Plant Secondary Metabolites: Biosynthesis, Regulation, and Applications)

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2025, 94(12), 3961-3973. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2025.072536

Received 29 August 2025; Accepted 14 November 2025; Issue published 29 December 2025

Abstract

Selenium (Se) deficiency is a global health problem affecting more than 500 million people; crop biofortification is a sustainable strategy for its mitigation. This study investigated the effect of the application of selenate nanoparticles (SeO₄²⁻) and the combination of selenate (SeO₄²⁻) and chitosan (CS) (forming a SeO₄²⁻-CS complex) on the antioxidant profile, growth, biomass, bioactive compounds, enzymes, and Se accumulation of wheat (Triticum spp.) sprouts. Fourteen treatments were applied using a factorial design combining seven concentrations and two formulations: SeO₄²⁻ and SeO₄²⁻-CS. It was identified that chitosan increased Se uptake efficiency by 30% versus conventional selenate. The optimal dose for biomass was 0.15 mg L⁻¹ of SeO₄²⁻-CS (+40% vs. control), while 0.25 mg L⁻¹ maximized bioactive compounds (phenolics (25%) and flavonoids (21%)) as well as antioxidant capacity (26%) and enzymatic activity (SOD: 37%; POD: 41%). In addition, CS reduced Se phytotoxicity at doses ≥1.50 mg L⁻¹, evidencing its dual role as a delivery vehicle and cell protector. These findings demonstrate that the SeO₄²⁻-CS hybrid system is a technologically viable and efficient alternative to traditional selenate for the production of biofortified sprouts. This strategy shows high potential for scaling up in the functional food industry and for application in agricultural regions with selenium-deficient soils.

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