Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Advertisement

Scientific Reports
  • View all journals
  • Search
  • My Account Login
  • Content Explore content
  • About the journal
  • Publish with us
  • Sign up for alerts
  • RSS feed
  1. nature
  2. scientific reports
  3. articles
  4. article
Synergistically micronutrient co-application improves nutritional quality and effectively reduces aflatoxin contamination in Brassica rapa L. roots
Download PDF
Download PDF
  • Article
  • Open access
  • Published: 08 March 2026

Synergistically micronutrient co-application improves nutritional quality and effectively reduces aflatoxin contamination in Brassica rapa L. roots

  • Unays Siraj  ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-8686-05401,2,
  • Zainab Siraj3 &
  • Patricio R. De Lo Ríos-Escalante  ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-5056-70034,5 

Scientific Reports , Article number:  (2026) Cite this article

  • 822 Accesses

  • Metrics details

We are providing an unedited version of this manuscript to give early access to its findings. Before final publication, the manuscript will undergo further editing. Please note there may be errors present which affect the content, and all legal disclaimers apply.

Subjects

  • Biochemistry
  • Biotechnology
  • Environmental sciences
  • Plant sciences

Abstract

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination and micronutrient deficiencies pose a major challenge to food safety and nutritional security. This study elucidated the synergistic potential of boron (B) and zinc (Zn) co-application to fortify nutritional quality and mitigate AFB1 accumulation in turnip (Brassica rapa L) roots. Seeds were cultivated in soils amended with individual or combined B and Zn at concentrations of 10–25 mg kg− 1. In results, individual B supplementation at 20 mg kg− 1 optimized protein content (10.9%), and the B-Zn interactome provided superior overall metabolic performance. B-Zn synergy significantly enhanced physiological resilience. Specifically, the combined application at 15–20 mg kg− 1 consistently achieved the highest STI and GMP productivity across biochemical traits. Carbohydrate partitioning was significantly improved, with NFE reaching 74.1% at 20 mg kg− 1 of B + Zn. AFB1 toxicity was suppressed by 60.08% at 15 mg kg− 1. RPI of dry matter, protein, and phenolic were consistently positive at 15–20 mg kg− 1 of B + Zn. Co-application enhanced the YSI for NFE, protein, and ash content. PCA confirmed that the synergistic effects of B + Zn treatment provided superior nutritional results compared to individual micronutrient applications. These findings demonstrate that balanced B-Zn supplementation strengthens nutritional composition quality and suppresses AFB1 contamination, supporting the biofortification paradigm as a reproducible strategy for sustainable food quality and crop improvement.

Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article and its supplementary file.

Abbreviations

AAS:

Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

AFB1 :

Aflatoxin B1

APX:

Ascorbate Peroxidase

AOAC:

Association of Official Analytical Chemists

ACA:

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase

BOR:

Boron-Requiring Efflux Transporter

B:

Boron

CAT:

Catalase

Cd:

Cadmium

Cr:

Chromium

DW:

Dry weight

ELISA:

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

FAO:

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Fe:

Iron

FW:

Fresh Weight

GAE:

Gallic Acid Equivalents

GMP:

Geometric Mean Productivity

GTs:

Glycosyltransferases

HBV:

Hepatitis B Virus

HCV:

Hepatitis C Virus

HCC:

Hepatocellular Carcinoma

HCN:

Hydrogen Cyanide

IBGE:

Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering

Mg kg− 1 :

Milligram per kilogram

µ kg− 1 :

Microgram per kilogram

Kcal 100 g− 1 :

Kilocalories per 100 g

MTs:

Mycotoxins

n:

Number

Ni:

Nickel

N:

Nitrogen

NFE:

Nitrogen-Free Extract

NIP:

Noudlin-26-like Intrinsic Protein

NRAMP:

Natural Resistance-Associated Macrophages Protein

PCA:

Principal Component Analysis

Pb:

Lead

Ppb:

Parts per billion

POD:

Peroxidase/Guaiacol Peroxidase

ROS:

Reactive Oxygen Species

Rt-qPCR:

Reverse Transcription Quantitative Polymerase Chain

RPI:

Relative Performance Index

SOD:

Superoxide Dismutase

STI:

Stress Tolerance Index

TOL:

Tolerance Index

SUT:

Sucrose Transporter gene

WHO:

World Health Organization

YSI:

Yield Stability Index

ZIP:

Zinc Regulated Transporter

Zn:

Zinc

References

  1. Zhu, Z. et al. J. Co-contamination and interactions of multiple mycotoxins and heavy metals in rice, maize, soybeans, and wheat flour marketed in Shanghai City. J. Hazard. Mater. 474, 134695. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134695

  2. Taghizadeh, S. F., Tabriznia Tabrizi, G., Ahmadpourmir, H., Karimi, G. & Rezaee, R. Dietary exposure to aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin G1, ochratoxin A, and patulin through fruit juice consumption: A probabilistic assessment of health risk. Toxicol. Rep. 14, 101894. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2025.101894 (2025).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Gemede, H. F. & Toxicity Mitigation, and Chemical Analysis of Aflatoxins and Other Toxic Metabolites Produced by Aspergillus: A Comprehensive Review. Toxins 2025. 17, 331. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins17070331 (2025).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Jalili, C. et al. Genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of aflatoxin on the reproductive system: Focus on cell cycle dynamics and apoptosis in testicular tissue. Toxicology 504, 153773. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2024.153773 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Jin, J., Kouznetsova, V. L., Kesari, S. & Tsigelny, I. F. Synergism in actions of HBV with aflatoxin in cancer development. Toxicology 499, 153652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2023.153652 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Yang, X., Zhang, Q., Chen, Z. Y., Liu, H. & Li, P. Investigation of Pseudomonas fluorescens strain 3JW1 on preventing and reducing aflatoxin contaminations in peanuts. PLoS One. 12 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0178810 (2017).

  7. FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission. Codex Revision of Code of Practice for Aflatoxin B1 (CXC 45-1997). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). (2025).

  8. Jobe, M. C. et al. Pathological Role of Oxidative Stress in Aflatoxin-Induced Toxicity in Different Experimental Models and Protective Effect of Phytochemicals: A Review. Molecules 28, 5369. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28145369 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Reverberi, M., Zjalic, S., Ricelli, A., Fabbri, A. A. & Fanelli, C. Oxidant/antioxidant balance inAspergillus parasiticus affects aflatoxin biosynthesis. Mycotoxin Res. 22, 39–47. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02954556 (2006).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Dineshkumar, R., Kumaravel, R., Gopalsamy, J., Sikder, M. N. A. & Sampathkumar, P. Microalgae as bio-fertilizers for rice growth and seed yield productivity. Waste Biomass Valorization. 9, 793–800. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-017-9873-5 (2018).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Zhang, Y. et al. Structural insights into the elevator-type transport mechanism of a bacterial ZIP metal transporter. Nature Communications 2023 14:1 14, 385. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-36048-4

  12. Bozzi, A. T. & Gaudet, R. Molecular mechanism of NRAMP-family transition metal transport. J. Mol. Biol. 433, 166991. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmb.2021.166991 (2021).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Sun, B. et al. Application of biofertilizer containing Bacillus subtilis reduced the nitrogen loss in agricultural soil. Soil. Biol. Biochem. 148, 107911. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2020.107911 (2020).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Ma, L., Terwilliger, A. & Maresso, A. W. Iron and zinc exploitation during bacterial pathogenesis. Metallomics 7, 1541–1554. https://doi.org/10.1039/c5mt00170f (2015).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Chu, L., Schäfer, C. C. & Matthes, M. S. Molecular mechanisms affected by boron deficiency in root and shoot meristems of plants. J. Exp. Bot. 76, 1866–1878. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/eraf036 (2025).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Vera-Maldonado, P. et al. Role of boron and its interaction with other elements in plants. Front. Plant. Sci. 15, 1332459. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1332459 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Arif, H., Siraj, U., Ana, Ali, S., Zia, A. & Ali, S. De Lo Rios-Escalante, P. R. Synergistic roles of zinc and boron in enhancing growth, stress physiology, and heavy metal tolerance in Brassica rapa L. Discover Plants. 3, 21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44372-026-00486-3 (2026).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Javed, A. et al. Turnip (Brassica rapus L.): a natural health tonic. Braz. J. Food Technol. 22 https://doi.org/10.1590/1981-6723.25318 (2019).

  19. Glick, B. R. & Glick, B. R. Introduction to plant growth-promoting bacteria. Beneficial plant-bacterial interactions 1–37. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44368-9

  20. Wimmer, M. A. & Eichert, T. Mechanisms for boron deficiency-mediated changes in plant water relations. Plant Sci. 203, 25–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2012.12.012 (2013).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Wei, C. et al. Hormetic effects of zinc on growth and antioxidant defense system of wheat plants. Sci. Total Environ. 807, 150992. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150992 (2022).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Shams, W. A. et al. Physiochemical and Biological Properties of Water of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa District Bannu, Pakistan 2014. Int. J. Photochem. Photobiology. 2, 12–15. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpp.20180201.13 (2018).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Siraj, U., Shams, W. A., Rehman, G. & Niaz, S. Serological Diagnosis of Salmonella typhi in DHQ (District Head Quarter Hospital) of Charsadda, City of Kp Pakistan. Comput. Biology Bioinf. 6, 21–24. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cbb.20180601.12 (2018).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Mubeen, A., Saeed, M. T., Saleem, M. F. & Wahid, M. A. Zinc and Boron Application Improves Yield, Yield Components and Gross Returns of Mungbean (Vigna radiata L). J. Arable Crops Mark. 2, 79–87. https://doi.org/10.33687/jacm.002.02.3521 (2020).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Gupta, R., Verma, N. & Tewari, R. K. Micronutrient deficiency-induced oxidative stress in plants. Plant. Cell. Rep. 43, 213. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-024-03297-6 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Ali, M. M., Gull, S., Hu, X., Hou, Y. & Chen, F. Exogenously applied zinc improves sugar-acid profile of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) by regulating enzymatic activities and expression of their metabolism-related genes. Plant Physiol. Biochem. 201, 107829. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.107829 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  27. Kaval, A., Yılmaz, H., Gedik, T., Yıldız Kutman, S., Kutman, Ü. B. & B. & The Fungal Root Endophyte Serendipita indica (Piriformospora indica) Enhances Bread and Durum Wheat Performance under Boron Toxicity at Both Vegetative and Generative Stages of Development through Mechanisms Unrelated to Mineral Homeostasis. Biology (Basel). 12, 1098. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12081098 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Safdar, M. E. et al. Combined Application of Boron and Zinc Improves Seed and Oil Yields and Oil Quality of Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.). Agronomy 2023, Vol. 13, Page 2020 13, (2020). https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13082020 (2023).

  29. Effect of Irrigation Frequencies and Foliar Application of Zinc. Boron on Growth and Yield of Yellow Sarson (Brassica rapa). Int. J. Plant. Soil. Sci. 35, 1355–1361. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijpss/2023/v35i203935 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  30. Ahmad, M. A. et al. Synergistic effects of boron and zinc foliar applications on growth and post-harvest storage attributes of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivar Argana. BMC Plant Biol. 25 (1), 25–1623. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-07723-z (2025). (2025).

    Google Scholar 

  31. Nuraga, G. W., Feyissa, T., Demissew, S., Tesfaye, K. & Woldegiorgis, A. Z. Comparison of proximate, mineral and phytochemical composition of enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) landraces used for a different purpose. Afr. J. Agric. Res. 14, 1326–1334. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJAR2019.13993 (2019).

    Google Scholar 

  32. Punchay, K., Inta, A., Tiansawat, P., Balslev, H. & Wangpakapattanawong, P. Nutrient and mineral compositions of wild leafy vegetables of the Karen and Lawa communities in Thailand. Foods 9, 1748. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9121748 (2020).

    Google Scholar 

  33. Safdar, B., Pang, Z., Liu, X., Rashid, M. T. & Jatoi, M. A. Structural and functional properties of raw and defatted flaxseed flour and degradation of cynogenic contents using different processing methods. J. Food Process. Eng. 43, e13406. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfpe.13406 (2020).

    Google Scholar 

  34. Ali, H. et al. Individual and interactive effects of amino acid and paracetamol on growth, physiological, and biochemical aspects of Brassica napus L. under drought conditions. Heliyon 10, 31544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31544 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

  35. Xue, Y. et al. Interaction Effects of Nitrogen Rates and Forms Combined With and Without Zinc Supply on Plant Growth and Nutrient Uptake in Maize Seedlings. Front. Plant. Sci. 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.722752 (2021).

  36. Farooq, H. et al. Enhancing zinc and iron biofortification in mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) through various application methods. Scientific Reports 2025 15:1 15, 10974. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95441-9

  37. Fan, X., Zhou, X., Chen, H., Tang, M. & Xie, X. Cross-Talks Between Macro- and Micronutrient Uptake and Signaling in Plants. Front. Plant. Sci. 12, 663477. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.663477 (2021).

    Google Scholar 

  38. Shahrajabian, M. H., Kuang, Y., Cui, H., Fu, L. & Sun, W. Metabolic changes of active components of important medicinal plants on the basis of traditional Chinese medicine under different environmental stresses. Curr. Org. Chem. 27, 782–806. https://doi.org/10.2174/1385272827666230807150910 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  39. Gao, S. et al. Zinc-selenium interaction regulates leaf photosynthesis and mediates grain sugar metabolism to improve the yield and quality of hybrid rice: A physiological perspective. Plant Physiol. Biochem. 221, 109611. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.109611 (2025).

    Google Scholar 

  40. Malik, A. & Garg, V. K. Bioremediation for Sustainable Environmental Cleanup. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003277941

  41. Kamran, A. et al. Boron bioavailability enhanced by foliar applied fulvic acid to improve grain yield and quality of fine basmati rice. Scientific Reports 2025 15:1 15, 30862. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04747-1

  42. Mshanga, N. et al. Association Between Aflatoxin Exposure and Haemoglobin, Zinc, andC, and A Systematic Review. Nutrients 2025, Vol. 17, Page 855 17, 855. (2025). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17050855

  43. Jalil, S. et al. Zinc and nano zinc mediated alleviation of heavy metals and metalloids in plants: an overview. Funct. Plant Biol. 50, 870–888. https://doi.org/10.1071/FP23021 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  44. da Bungala, C. et al. U Analysis of Glucosinolates and Phenolic Content in Sprouts of 7 Brassica rapa Subspecies. Nat. Prod. Commun. 19. https://doi.org/10.1177/1934578X2412585 (2024).

  45. Zhang, X., Jia, Q., Jia, X., Li, J., Sun, X., Min, L., … & Zhao, J. Brassica vegetables - an undervalued nutritional goldmine. Hortic. Res.12, https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae302 (2025).

  46. Serrano, C. et al. Chemical Profile and Biological Activities of Brassica rapa and Brassica napus Ex Situ Collection from Portugal. Foods 13 (1164). https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13081164 (2024).

  47. Dixon, R. A. & Paiva, N. L. Stress-Induced Phenylpropanoid Metabolism. Plant. Cell. 7, 1085–1097. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.7.7.1085 (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  48. Alloway, B. J. Zinc in Soils and Crop Nutrition. International Zinc Association Int. Fertilizer Association 16, (2008).

  49. Dai, Z. et al. Role of Nanofertilization in Plant Nutrition under Abiotic Stress Conditions. Chemosphere 143496. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143496

  50. Bartolić, D. et al. Associations Between Mineral Composition and Aflatoxin B1 in Maize (Zea mays L.) Seeds: Toward Contamination Indicators and Food Safety. Foods 14, 3552. (2025). https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14203552

  51. Hu, P. et al. Zinc intake ameliorates intestinal morphology and oxidative stress of broiler chickens under heat stress. Front. Immunol. 14, 1308907. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1308907 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

  52. Qu, M. et al. Understanding the role of boron in plant adaptation to soil salinity. Physiol. Plant. 176, 14358. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.14358 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

  53. Pożarska, A. et al. AFB1 Toxicity in Human Food and Animal Feed Consumption: A Review of Experimental Treatments and Preventive Measures. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024. 25, Page 5305 (25), 5305. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25105305 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

  54. Karatekeli, S., Demirel, H. H., Zemheri-Navruz, F. & Ince, S. Boron exhibits hepatoprotective effect together with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic pathways in rats exposed to aflatoxin B1. J. Trace Elem. Med Biol. 77, 127127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtemb.2023.127127 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  55. Safdar,M. E., Qamar, R., Javed, A., Nadeem, M. A., Javeed, H. M. R., Farooq, S., … Ahmed,M. A. Combined Application of Boron and Zinc Improves Seed and Oil Yields and Oil Quality of Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.). Agronomy 13, 2020. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13082020 (2023).

  56. Ahmad, Z. et al. Exogenously Applied Silicon and Zinc Mitigate Salt Stress by Improving Leaf Pigments and Antioxidant Activities in Canola Cultivars. Silicon 15, 5435–5444. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-023-02446-y (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  57. Bhadra, T. et al. Zinc and Boron Soil Applications Affect Athelia rolfsii Stress Response in Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Plants. Plants 12, 3509. (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12193509

  58. Kumari, V. V. et al. Plant Nutrition: An Effective Way to Alleviate Abiotic Stress in Agricultural Crops. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 23 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23158519 (2022).

  59. Pour-Aboughadareh, A., Khalili, M., Poczai, P. & Olivoto, T. Stability Indices to Deciphering the Genotype-by-Environment Interaction (GEI) Effect: An Applicable Review for Use in Plant Breeding Programs. Plants (Basel). 11. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11030414 (2022).

  60. Halim, A. et al. Field Assessment of Two Micronutrients (Zinc and Boron) on the Seed Yield and Oil Content of Mustard. Seeds 2, 127–137. https://doi.org/10.3390/seeds2010010 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  61. Limcharoensuk, T. et al. Aqueous extract of Cissus quadrangularis L. alleviates heavy metal toxicity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by limiting metal uptake and enhancing detoxification mechanisms. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 299, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118408 (2025).

    Google Scholar 

  62. Ullah, A. et al. Antimicrobial activity of Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana and Caesalpinia decapetala plant extracts against selected pathogens. Nat. Appl. Sci. Int. J. (NASIJ). 4, 78–93. https://doi.org/10.47264/idea.nasij/4.2.5 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  63. Wojtyla, Ł., Lechowska, K., Kubala, S. & Garnczarska, M. Different modes of hydrogen peroxide action during seed germination. Front. Plant. Sci. 7, 175649. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2016.00066 (2016).

    Google Scholar 

  64. Awuchi, C. G. et al. Mycotoxins Affecting Animals, Foods, Humans, and Plants: Types, Occurrence, Toxicities, Action Mechanisms, Prevention, and Detoxification Strategies—A Revisit. Food 10, 1279. (2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10061279

  65. Shin, C., Hwang, J. Y., Yoon, J. H., Kim, S. H. & Kang, G. J. Simultaneous determination of neurotoxic shellfish toxins (brevetoxins) in commercial shellfish by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Food Control. 91 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21610 (2018).

  66. AOAC. Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International (Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 2005).

  67. Shukla, S. et al. Effect of farmyard manure and Azotobacter on the nutritional quality of high-altitude-grown cruciferous vegetables: an exploratory study. J. Agric. Food Res. 21, 101947. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101947 (2025).

    Google Scholar 

  68. FAO/WHO. Human Vitamin and Mineral Requirements: Report of a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation. (2003).

  69. Shukla, S. et al. Effect of cold arid high-altitude environment on bioactive phytochemical compounds of organically grown Brassicaceae vegetables for nutri-health security in mountainous regions. Sci. Rep. 14, 15976. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-64926-4 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

  70. Lamba, K. et al. Heat stress tolerance indices for identification of the heat-tolerant wheat genotypes. Sci. Rep. 13, 10842. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-37634-8 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This study was financially supported by Project MECESUP UCT 0804.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand

    Unays Siraj

  2. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, 2300, Pakistan

    Unays Siraj

  3. Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Women’s University, Mardan, 23200, Pakistan

    Zainab Siraj

  4. Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas Químicas, Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Casila 15-D, Temuco, Chile

    Patricio R. De Lo Ríos-Escalante

  5. Núcleo de Estudios Ambientales, Faculted de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Catolica de Temuco, Temuco, Chile

    Patricio R. De Lo Ríos-Escalante

Authors
  1. Unays Siraj
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zainab Siraj
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Patricio R. De Lo Ríos-Escalante
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Unays Siraj (U.S): Conceptualization, Data curation, Funding acquisition, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Software, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft. Zainab Siraj (Z.S): Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Writing – review & editing. Patricio R. De Lo Rios-Escalante (P.D.L.R.E): Writing – review & editing, Funding acquisition.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Unays Siraj.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethics approval

No human or animal subjects were involved in this study.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary Material 1 (download DOCX )

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, which permits any non-commercial use, sharing, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if you modified the licensed material. You do not have permission under this licence to share adapted material derived from this article or parts of it. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Siraj, U., Siraj, Z. & De Lo Ríos-Escalante, P.R. Synergistically micronutrient co-application improves nutritional quality and effectively reduces aflatoxin contamination in Brassica rapa L. roots. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-43201-8

Download citation

  • Received: 03 January 2026

  • Accepted: 02 March 2026

  • Published: 08 March 2026

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-43201-8

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

Keywords

  • Proximate composition
  • Nutritional value
  • Food quality
  • Phenolic compounds
  • Antioxidant activity
  • Stress tolerance
Download PDF

Advertisement

Explore content

  • Research articles
  • News & Comment
  • Collections
  • Subjects
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on X
  • Sign up for alerts
  • RSS feed

About the journal

  • About Scientific Reports
  • Contact
  • Journal policies
  • Guide to referees
  • Calls for Papers
  • Editor's Choice
  • Journal highlights
  • Open Access Fees and Funding

Publish with us

  • For authors
  • Language editing services
  • Open access funding
  • Submit manuscript

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

  • Explore articles by subject
  • Find a job
  • Guide to authors
  • Editorial policies

Scientific Reports (Sci Rep)

ISSN 2045-2322 (online)

nature.com footer links

About Nature Portfolio

  • About us
  • Press releases
  • Press office
  • Contact us

Discover content

  • Journals A-Z
  • Articles by subject
  • protocols.io
  • Nature Index

Publishing policies

  • Nature portfolio policies
  • Open access

Author & Researcher services

  • Reprints & permissions
  • Research data
  • Language editing
  • Scientific editing
  • Nature Masterclasses
  • Research Solutions

Libraries & institutions

  • Librarian service & tools
  • Librarian portal
  • Open research
  • Recommend to library

Advertising & partnerships

  • Advertising
  • Partnerships & Services
  • Media kits
  • Branded content

Professional development

  • Nature Awards
  • Nature Careers
  • Nature Conferences

Regional websites

  • Nature Africa
  • Nature China
  • Nature India
  • Nature Japan
  • Nature Middle East
  • Privacy Policy
  • Use of cookies
  • Legal notice
  • Accessibility statement
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Your US state privacy rights
Springer Nature

© 2026 Springer Nature Limited

Nature Briefing: Translational Research

Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Translational Research newsletter — top stories in biotechnology, drug discovery and pharma.

Get what matters in translational research, free to your inbox weekly. Sign up for Nature Briefing: Translational Research