Determination of elemental concentration profiles in tender wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum L.) using instrumental neutron activation analysis

Samples of shoots and roots of tender wheatgrass/wheat plants collected over a period of 20 days were analysed by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The wheatgrass (wheat: Triticum aestivum L.) samples analysed were grown in three different conditions namely (i) tap water, (ii) nutrient compounds with tap water, and (iii) soil and tap water. A total of 15 elements were determined in these samples. In addition, a commercially available wheatgrass tablet was analysed. Accuracy of the method was evaluated by analysing two biological reference materials, SRM 1573a (Tomato leaves) from NIST and ICHTJ-CTA-vtl-2 (Tobacco leaves) from INCT. The paper discusses the elemental concentration levels, their trends and concentration ratios of elements in shoot-to-root grown in these three conditions of growth. It was observed that the elements such as K, Na, Ca and Mg increased linearly in the shoots with the growth period whereas the concentrations of the elements namely Zn, Mn and Fe remained constant in shoots after 8th day of plant growth for all three conditions of growth. However, it was observed that the shoot to root concentration ratio in all the conditions increased linearly for K, Na, Ca, Mg and Cl and decreased for Zn, Fe, Mn, and Al with growth period.