Trace elements of Taiwanese dioscorea spp. using instrumental neutron activation analysis

Twenty-two varieties categorized into six distinct species of dioscorea spp. had their concentration of trace elements evaluated by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The various dioscoreas were planted in the same plantation area to effectively suppress the diversity from different planted land, thus, the disagreement between each trace element was concluded from the nature of various species of dioscoreas themselves. Nineteen trace elements were verified and a quantified index, AT, was introduced to help classify the elements. A smaller AT indicated a close consistency of the concentration for specific trace element in various dioscorea. Thus, K, Zn, and Rb were in Group 1, which had the minimum ATs, Cl, Na, Mg, Fe, Mn, Br, and Co were in Group 2, which had the medium ATs, while the remaining of the trace elements, V, As, Sb, Cu, Se, Al, La, Sc, and Sm were all in Group 3, which had the maximum ATs. The different ATs and various species of dioscoreas were also discussed.