This study aimed to assess the efficiency of Ca enrichment in tubers of three genotypes of Solanum tuberosum L., through foliar spraying with CaCl₂ and Ca(NO₃)₂ solutions. In this context, soil heterogeneity of three potato-growing fields, as well as the implications of Ca accumulation among tissues and some quality parameters were assessed. Three potato varieties (Agria, Picasso and Rossi) were grown in three production fields and during the life cycle, four pulverizations with calcium chloride (3 and 6 kg ha⁻¹) or calcium nitrate (0.5, 2 and 4 kg ha⁻¹) were applied. For screening the potential phytotoxicity, using Agria as a test system, the potential synthesis of photoassimilates was determined, and it was found that after the 3rd Ca application, leaf gas exchanges were moderately (net photosynthesis), to strongly (stomatal conductance) affected, although without impact on Ca accumulation in tubers. At harvest, the average Ca biofortification index varied between 5–40%, 40–35% and 4.3–13% in Agria, Picasso and Rossi, respectively. Moreover, the equatorial region of the tubers in general showed that Ca accumulation prevailed in the epidermis and, in some cases, in inner areas of the potato tubers. Biofortified tubers with Ca also showed some significant changes in total soluble solids and colorimetric parameters. It is concluded that Ca enrichment of potato tubers through foliar spraying complemented the xylem mass flow of Ca from roots, through phloem redistribution. Both fertilizers showed similar efficiency, but Rossi revealed a lower index of Ca accumulation, eventually due to different metabolic characteristics. Although affected by Ca enrichment, potato tubers maintained a high quality for industrial processing.

In worldwide production, rice is the second-most-grown crop. It is considered a staple food for many populations and, if naturally enriched in Se, has a huge potential to reduce nutrient deficiencies in foodstuff for human consumption. This study aimed to develop an agronomic itinerary for Se biofortification of Oryza sativa L. (Poaceae) and assess potential physicochemical deviations. Trials were implemented in rice paddy field with known soil and water characteristics and two genotypes resulting from genetic breeding (OP1505 and OP1509) were selected for evaluation. Plants were sprayed at booting, anthesis and milky grain phases with two different foliar fertilizers (sodium selenate and sodium selenite) at different concentrations (25, 50, 75 and 100 g Se·ha⁻¹). After grain harvesting, the application of selenate showed 4.9–7.1 fold increases, whereas selenite increased 5.9–8.4-fold in OP1509 and OP1505, respectively. In brown grain, it was found that in the highest treatment selenate or selenite triggered much higher Se accumulation in OP1505 relatively to OP1509, and that no relevant variation was found with selenate or selenite spraying in each genotype. Total protein increased exponentially in OP1505 genotype when selenite was applied, and higher dosage of Se also increased grain weight and total protein content. It was concluded that, through agronomic biofortification, rice grain can be enriched with Se without impairing its quality, thus highlighting its value in general for the industry and consumers with special needs.

An agronomic itinerary for Se biofortification of two rice cultivars (Ariete and Ceres) through foliar fertilization with sodium selenate and sodium selenite with different concentrations (25, 50, 75 and 100 g Se.ha⁻¹), was implemented in experimental fields. The selenium toxicity threshold was not exceeded, as shown by the eco-physiological data obtained through leaf gas exchanges. The highest Se enrichment in paddy grains was obtained with selenite for both cultivars, especially at the highest doses, i.e., 75 and 100 g Se.ha⁻¹, with approximately a 5.0-fold increase compared with control values. In paddy grains, Zn was the most affected element by the treatments with Se with decreases up to 54%. When comparing the losses between rough and polished grains regardless of the cultivars, Se species and concentrations, it was observed that only Cu, Mg and Zn exhibited losses 70%. The loss of Se is more pronounced in Ceres cultivar than in Ariete but rarely exceeds 50%. The analysis by µ-EDXRF showed that, in Ariete cultivar, Se is mostly homogeneously distributed in the grain regardless of any treatments, while in Ceres cultivar, the Se distribution seems to favor accumulation in the periphery, perhaps in the bran.

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, offers many advantages and, particularly in the medical field, it has stood out for its potential for the manufacture of patient-specific implantable devices. Thus, the unique properties of 3D-printed biocompatible polymers such as Polylactic Acid (PLA) and Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) have made these materials the focus of recent research where new post-processing and joining techniques need to be investigated. This study investigates the weldability of PLA and PEEK 3D-printed plates through stationary shoulder friction stir welding (SS-FSW) with assisted heating. An SS-FSW apparatus was developed to address the challenges of rotating shoulder FSW of thermoplastics, with assisted heating either through the shoulder or through the backing plate, thus minimizing material removal defects in the welds. Successful welds revealed that SS-FSW improves surface quality in both PLA and PEEK welds compared to rotating shoulder tools. Process parameters for PLA welds are investigated using the Taguchi method, emphasizing the importance of lower travel speeds to achieve higher joint efficiencies. In PEEK welds, the heated backing plate proved effective in increasing process heat input and reducing cooldown rates which were associated with higher crystallinity PEEK. Despite these findings, further research is needed to improve the weld strength of SS-FSW with these materials considering aspects like tool design, process stability, and 3D printing parameters. This investigation emphasizes the potential of SS-FSW in the assembly of thermoplastic materials, offering insights into the weldability of additively manufactured biocompatible polymers like PLA and PEEK.