Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of soil selenium (Se) supplementation level on Se contents of green tea and milk vetch. Four different concentrations of sodium selenite ($Na_2SeO_3$) solutions (0.0, 3.3, 33.0 and 165.0${\mu}g/mL$) were prepared and one liter of each solution was well mixed with 10 kg of compost (cowpea soil) to give four different levels of Se-containing soil: $T_1$, 0; $T_2$, 33; $T_3$, 330; $T_4$, and 1,650${\mu}g$/100 g soil. Green tea plants and milk vetch were individually cultivated in those soils for 60 days. Se contents of freeze-dried green tea leaves were 6.87, 10.40, 12.04, and 20.19 ${\mu}g/g$, respectively; all of which were significantly different (p<0.05) from the others except for $T_2$ and $T_3$. The results showed that Se-contents of green tea leaves were increased 1.5$\sim$2.9 times as the Se level in the soil increased. Regression equation between Se contents in green tea (Y) and soil Se supplementation level (X) was: Y=0.007X＋8.857. However, Se contents in the milk vetch were increased significantly (p<0.05) more with the same treatments $T_3$ (74 ${\mu}g/g$) and $T_4$ (187$\mu$g/g) in comparison to those at $T_1$ (5.0 ${\mu}g/g$) and $T_2$ (12.0$\mu$g/g). The increases ranged from approximately between 2.4 to 37.4 times that of the control group. Regression equation between Se contents in milk vetch (Y) and soil Se supplementation level (X) was: Y=0.1063X＋15.989. The large difference of Se contents between green tea leaves and milk vetch would be attributed by the difference of protein contents between the 30% or higher protein-content of legumes and 15$\sim$20% protein of shrubs. The present study clearly indicates that green tea leaves and milk vetch can be enriched in selenium by supplementing the soil with Se. Therefore, Se-enriched green tea or milk vetch powder could be utilized as functional foods in Se-fortified green tea drinks or salads, or as food additives to enhance the daily intake of Se.
