Selenium biofortification of pea (Pisum sativum L.) microgreens through seed priming: Effects on agronomic...

Selenium (Se) deficiency is a widespread nutritional problem. Agronomic biofortification of microgreens through seed nutripriming is a promising approach to enhance Se intake. Microgreens, comprising nutrient-dense foods that can be produced year-round, are ideal targets for biofortification and may help alleviate malnutrition. This study evaluated the effects of Se nutripriming on germination, growth performance, chemical composition and antioxidant properties of pea (Pisum sativum L.) microgreens.

Nutripriming significantly increased seed Se content, with the 100 μm-12-h Se treatment resulting in a four-fold accumulation compared to controls, at the same time as preserving membrane integrity. Microgreens from primed seeds exhibited enhanced Se translocation to aerial tissues and an improved mineral profile. Short-term treatments (6 h) increased glucose and oxalic acid levels, whereas prolonged priming (12 h) favored sucrose accumulation. However, this 12-h duration significantly reduced the emergence rate and aerial biomass yield. The optimal antioxidant profile, characterized by the highest total phenolic content and strongest inhibition of lipid peroxidation, was achieved with the 50 μm-12-h Se treatment.

Se nutripriming enhanced the nutritional quality of pea microgreens but revealed a critical trade-off: although 12-h priming maximized Se uptake and antioxidant properties, it severely reduced agronomic production. Conversely, 6-h priming promoted better biomass yield, although germination remained lower than in the NP control. Therefore, optimizing priming duration is essential to balance the biofortification benefits with overall crop productivity. © 2026 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.