294
and show the statistical differences between tested cultivars if they exist. This test is
often used in agricultural practice, especially in breeding programs, and helps
breeders to choose the varieties with different mineral content and use them as a
parent in order to create the variety with desired traits. The values for mineral content were statistically processed using basic descriptive statistics (SPSS 2010). To
determine the variability of analyzed elements and understand the connection
between metal contents, principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analyses
(CA) were applied (Mohammadi and Prasanna 2003).
10.3 Results and Discussion
Minerals are inorganic elements found in small or insignificant amounts in various
dietary constituents. Based on the amount present in the cell, minerals are classified
as major or macro and trace minerals. The major elements are those that are present
in the cell in amounts greater than 5 g. Trace minerals are those present in amounts
less than 5 g (Kulp and Ponte 2000). Main and trace elements have many functions:
as electrolytes, as enzyme constituents, and as biding materials in bones and teeth.
The barley grain is a source of minerals for human and livestock nutrition.
According to Shwry and Ullrich (2014), typical components of nutritionally important minerals (including iron and zinc, which are deficient in many human diet) in
whole grain and barley samples are phosphorus (3560μg/g), potassium (5340μg/g),
magnesium (1450μg/g), calcium (520μg/g), iron (46μg/g), zinc (31μg/g), manganese (20μg/g), and copper (7μg/g).
The average mineral content in different barley varieties varies significantly from
one part of the world to another. Mineral content in barley grain is a function of factors such as type of grain, the variety agricultural procedures, growing conditions,
composition of soil, and harvest time (Potter and Hotchkiss 1995; Fennema 1996;
Kulp and Ponte 2000).
The results obtained for macro- and microelements in tested barley genotypes
are summarized in Tables 10.9 and 10.10. Using LSD test, significant differences
were noticed between analyzed varieties among different elements. The differences
in chemical composition in barley cultivars can be explained by genetic makeup
since all genotypes were grown under the same environmental conditions. KabataPendias (2011) have been reported that the macro- and trace element contents of
plants are affected by the cultivar, soil conditions, weather conditions during the
period of growth, and use of fertilizers.
Sodium (Na) is an important mineral and is present mostly as an extracellular
constituent. The function of this mineral is mainly to maintain the osmotic pressure
of the extracellular fluid. From our study, sodium concentration ranges from
21.57 mg/kg in Emon variety to 90.50 mg/kg in NS 525 cultivar. Significant differences were noticed between tested barley genotypes. The average value for sodium
for all analyzed varieties was 33.00 mg/kg with small coefficient of variation
(0.96%). No significant differences were obtained between the following
N. Markova Ruzdik et al.
and show the statistical differences between tested cultivars if they exist. This test is
often used in agricultural practice, especially in breeding programs, and helps
breeders to choose the varieties with different mineral content and use them as a
parent in order to create the variety with desired traits. The values for mineral content were statistically processed using basic descriptive statistics (SPSS 2010). To
determine the variability of analyzed elements and understand the connection
between metal contents, principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analyses
(CA) were applied (Mohammadi and Prasanna 2003).
10.3 Results and Discussion
Minerals are inorganic elements found in small or insignificant amounts in various
dietary constituents. Based on the amount present in the cell, minerals are classified
as major or macro and trace minerals. The major elements are those that are present
in the cell in amounts greater than 5 g. Trace minerals are those present in amounts
less than 5 g (Kulp and Ponte 2000). Main and trace elements have many functions:
as electrolytes, as enzyme constituents, and as biding materials in bones and teeth.
The barley grain is a source of minerals for human and livestock nutrition.
According to Shwry and Ullrich (2014), typical components of nutritionally important minerals (including iron and zinc, which are deficient in many human diet) in
whole grain and barley samples are phosphorus (3560μg/g), potassium (5340μg/g),
magnesium (1450μg/g), calcium (520μg/g), iron (46μg/g), zinc (31μg/g), manganese (20μg/g), and copper (7μg/g).
The average mineral content in different barley varieties varies significantly from
one part of the world to another. Mineral content in barley grain is a function of factors such as type of grain, the variety agricultural procedures, growing conditions,
composition of soil, and harvest time (Potter and Hotchkiss 1995; Fennema 1996;
Kulp and Ponte 2000).
The results obtained for macro- and microelements in tested barley genotypes
are summarized in Tables 10.9 and 10.10. Using LSD test, significant differences
were noticed between analyzed varieties among different elements. The differences
in chemical composition in barley cultivars can be explained by genetic makeup
since all genotypes were grown under the same environmental conditions. KabataPendias (2011) have been reported that the macro- and trace element contents of
plants are affected by the cultivar, soil conditions, weather conditions during the
period of growth, and use of fertilizers.
Sodium (Na) is an important mineral and is present mostly as an extracellular
constituent. The function of this mineral is mainly to maintain the osmotic pressure
of the extracellular fluid. From our study, sodium concentration ranges from
21.57 mg/kg in Emon variety to 90.50 mg/kg in NS 525 cultivar. Significant differences were noticed between tested barley genotypes. The average value for sodium
for all analyzed varieties was 33.00 mg/kg with small coefficient of variation
(0.96%). No significant differences were obtained between the following
N. Markova Ruzdik et al.