Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to develop selenium (Se)- and germanium (Ge)-enriched rice by foliar spray application of organic or inorganic Se and Ge. METHODS AND RESULTS: The time and frequency of organic or inorganic Se and Ge treatment were performed at the five main growth stages as followings: effective tillering stage (E), maximum tillering stage (M), booting stage (B), heading stage (H), grain filling stage (G). The main treatment plots were consisted of (1) 'once' treatment (at each E, M, B, H, G stage, Se/Ge single apply), (2) 'twice I' (at H + G stages, organic or inorganic Se/Ge apply), (3) 'twice II' (at H + G stages, mixture apply of Se + Ge + pesticide). The organic or inorganic Se treatment concentration was 20 and 40 ppm, and the Ge was 50 and 100 ppm. The Se and Ge contents in rice grain (brown rice and polished rice) were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma (ICP). The highest Se content was noted in brown rice 'twice I' with Se 40 ppm (1394.06) at H + G stages, but the lowest was in 'once' with Se 40 ppm ($367.79{\mu}g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$) at B stage. The highest of Se content in polished rice was found in 'twice I' of Se 40 ppm (1090.25) at H + G stages, but the lowest was in 'once' with Se 40 ppm ($403.53{\mu}g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$) at E stage. On the other hand, The highest of Ge content in brown rice was found in 'twice I' with Ge 100 ppm (398.66) at H + G stages, but the lowest was in 'once' with Ge 100 ppm ($139.64{\mu}g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$) at B stage. The highest of Ge content in polished rice was found in 'twice I' of Ge 100 ppm (300.29) at H + G stages, but the lowest was in 'once' with Ge 100 ppm ($142.24{\mu}g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$) at B stage. CONCLUSION: Se and Ge contents both in brown rice and polished rice treated with organic Se and Ge forms were higher than those of inorganic Se and Ge. Overall results concluded that the supplementation of organic Se and Ge contents in brown and polished rice contents were comparatively higher than the inorganic Se and Ge. This is results also proved that the foliar spray application of organic Se and Ge has positive nutritive effect on the rice for regular consumption.
