PROSPECTS OF ONION (ALLIUM CEPA L.) FERTILIZATION BY SELENIUM. MINI-REVIEW

Allium cepa is widely used all over the world both in culinary and medicine. High antioxidant activity of biologically active compounds present in onion bulbs and the ability to transfer inorganic forms of selenium to methylated derivatives of selenium-containing aminoacids known to protect the organism against different forms of cancer may be considered as a background for the development of functional product with high antioxidant activity. The review discusses the results of the main investigations devoted to problems of A.cepa biofortification with Se, interaction of the element with other antioxidants and trace elements of the plant, intervarietal variability and beneficial effect on human health.