Interplay between irrigation and genotype determines biofortification and flavonoid enrichment in wheat and triticale leaves

Wheat genetic materials subjected to different irrigation levels may exhibit varying concentrations of elements such as zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and calcium (Ca), depending on the cultivar and its response to irrigation. Additionally, these same conditions can lead to higher concentrations of bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of Zn, Fe, and Ca using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and to determine the flavonoid content in different wheat and triticale genetic materials under distinct irrigation regimes. The experiment was conducted during the third cropping season (winter season) of 2023 at the experimental area of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul. The experimental design adopted was a strip-plot arrangement, with the main plots consisting of three irrigation levels, corresponding to 30% (L3), 60% (L2), and 90% (L1) of crop evapotranspiration. Each irrigation level was subdivided into subplots comprising nine commercial cultivars of wheat and triticale: BRS Coleiro (G1, wheat), BRS Jaçanã (G2, wheat), BRS Atobá (G3, wheat), IPR Catuara (G4, wheat), IPR Caiapó (G5, triticale), IPR Aimoré (G6, triticale), BRS Gralha Azul (G7, wheat), IPR Potyporã (G8, wheat), and BRS Sabiá (G9, wheat). The concentrations of Fe, Zn, and Ca in the leaves were determined using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF). Flavonoid extraction and quantification in wheat and triticale leaves were performed on dried, ground samples and analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC); the flavonoids determined were daidzin, genistein, and genistin. The results demonstrate that the interaction between wheat and triticale genotypes and different irrigation levels significantly influences the foliar composition of flavonoids and micronutrients, highlighting promising genotypes for Fe, Zn, and bioactive compound accumulation, such as G4 and G5. The observed correlations, especially between Fe and Zn, reinforce the importance of these interactions in plant metabolism, with relevant implications for biofortification strategies and genotypic selection, particularly when higher irrigation levels are combined with superior materials for bioactive accumulation and nutrient uptake essential for wheat biofortification.