AUTHOR=Starič Pia , Remic Lucija , Vogel-Mikuš Katarina , Junkar Ita , Vavpetič Primož , Kelemen Mitja , Pongrac Paula 

TITLE=Exploring the potential of cold plasma treatment followed by zinc-priming for biofortification of buckwheat sprouts

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2023.1151101

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2023.1151101

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=Increasing the concentration of an element in edible produce (i.e. biofortification) can mitigate the element deficiency in humans. Sprouts are small but popular part of healthy diets providing vitamins and essential elements throughout the year. Element composition of sprouts can easily be amended, e.g. by soaking the grains in element-rich solution before germination (grain-priming). In addition, pre-treatment of grains to improve element translocation from the solution into the grain may further enhance the element concentration in the sprout. The aim of the study was to investigate whether oxygen-based cold plasma treatment, previously shown to improve grain wettability and water uptake into cereal grains, can enhance zinc (Zn) biofortification of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) sprouts. Grains were pre-treated/ untreated with cold plasma and soaked in ZnCl2 solution/pure water. Element composition of grain tissues and of sprouts was assessed. Grain-priming increased Zn concentration in shoots of common buckwheat sprouts more than five-times, namely from 79 to 423 mg Zn kg-1 dry weight. Cold plasma treatment increased grain wettability and water uptake into the grain. However, cold plasma pre-treatment followed by grain-priming with ZnCl2 did not increase Zn concentration in different grain tissues or in the sprouts more than the priming alone, but rather decreased the concentration in sprout shoots (average ± standard error: 216 ± 6.13 and 174 ± 7.57 mg Zn kg-1 dry weight, respectively).  When the fresh weight portion of whole sprouts (i.e. of roots and shoots) was considered, comparable average requirements of Zn, namely 24.5 % and 35 % for adult men and women would be satisfied by consuming cold-plasma pre-treated and not pre-treated grains. Potential advantages of cold plasma pre-treatment need to be tested further, mainly to optimize the duration of soaking required to produce Zn-enriched sprouts.