Enrichment of berries with magnesium and their use prospects in preventive nutrition

According to modern data, about 80% of the population living in different countries, receives magnesium in insufficient quantities. The lack of magnesium adversely affects the functions of the central nervous system, heart and blood vessels, adrenals, thyroid and pancreas, and other organs. The magnesium deficiency increases with the age of the person. Its content is not enough in the diet of the elderly and poorly provided people. The purpose of the research was to study the possibility of enriching of berries with magnesium enriched berries of various crops by the method of foliar treatment of plants during the formation of berries. The objects of research were the berries of the honeysuckle variety of Zimorodok, the strawberry variety of the Korona, the variegated-leaf hardy kiwi variety of Soroka. Enrichment was carried out by the method of single root foliar treatment of plants with an aqueous solution of magnesium sulphate of various concentrations in variants of the experiment with the addition of hydrated lime in order to avoid the burning of plants. The rate of consumption of the solution depended on the number of plants per hectare and the age of plantations. Control samples were sprayed with distilled water. The magnesium content in the berries was determined in accordance with GOST R 51429-99. The results obtained in the first years of the study allowed to determine the optimal concentration of the solution used to enrich the berries with magnesium, which was 20.0 g/l. The use of this method of enrichment showed a positive tendency of magnesium accumulation by plants. The magnesium content in berries increases, while the following regularity was observed: an increase in the concentration of the solution in the variants of the experiment contributed to its greater content in the berries. The results of further studies prove the possibility of increasing the natural content of magnesium in honeysuckle, strawberry and variegated-leaf hardy kiwi in 1.7-6.3 times. According to the ability to accumulate magnesium, honeysuckle leads - 626.5% in relation to control. In the strawberries, magnesium accumulates to a somewhat lesser extent - 308.9%. Variegated-leaf hardy kiwi berries are characterized by a high natural content of magnesium, but low accumulating capacity of its accumulation is 172.1% on average over three years of research. The use of fortified berries in the diet will help to prevent the deficiency of magnesium in the body.