Calcium Biofortification in Solanum tuberosum L. cv.Agria: A Technical Workflow

In the human body, Ca is required in high quantities, being crucial for bone synthesis, specific metabolic features, and tooth mineralization. However, its deficiency can trigger osteoporosis and rickets development. To avoid Ca deficiency, agronomic biofortification is a strategy that can improve this nutrient enhancement in food crops providing, in the long term, its intake and physiological use in the human body. In this context, being Solanum tuberosum L. one of the most important staple food crops worldwide and a primary source in human diet, this study aimed to develop a technical workflow for Ca biofortification of cv. Agria and assess some related quality parameters. The technical workflow was applied during the production cycle, through four foliar sprays with solutions containing calcium chloride (3 and 6 kg.ha−1) and calcium nitrate (0.5, 2 and 4 kg.ha−1). The accumulation kinetics of Ca in the shoot was carried out and, at harvest, the average index of Ca enrichment in the tubers varied between 5% and 40%. Naturally enriched tubers with Ca showed minor changes in dry weight matter content and colorimetric parameters. It was concluded that potato tubers naturally fortified with Ca can be used as raw material for further processing into functional food products, thus adding product value.