This study aimed at determining whether applying selenium to soybean plants affected composition and oil oxidative stability of the seeds. Soybean was cultivated and sodium selenite (Selenite) added by foliar application (0, 200, or 300 g Selenite/Ha). Physical and chemical characterization was performed on the harvested seeds (thousand seed weight, bulk and true densities, fat, fiber, ash, protein, nitrogen free extract and selenium content). Soybean oil was tested in terms of Oxidation Induction Time (OIT), fatty acid, tocopherols, phytosterols, density, refractive index and saponification and iodine values. All seeds showed similar composition: crude fat (around 20%) and crude fiber (from 8.4 to 9.3%). Control seeds and those treated with 200 g Selenite/Ha contained higher protein concentration (37%), compared to the 300 g treatment (35.9%). All seeds showed similar ash content (7%). OIT values for both treatments were slightly lower (from 39.1 to 43.7 min) compared with 45.02 min in the control. Polyunsaturated fatty acids were higher for the 300 g Se/Ha (50.2%) compared with 48.2 to 49.4%of the other treatments. All samples showed similar phytosterols and tocopherols concentrations. Results showed that OIT values maintained an inverse relationship with selenium content, suggesting that foliar fertilization enhanced oil oxidation or acted as a pro-oxidant at the applied rates.
Keywords: phytosterols; selenization; tocopherols.