Minerals and Protein in Four Hard Red Winter Wheat Varieties and Fractions Derived Therefrom

Abstract

ABSTRACTWhole grain wheat from hard red winter wheat cultivars (Scout 66, Vona, TAM101, and TAM105) and six ground fractions separated according to particle size were analyzed for 25 elements by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The apparent concentrations established in the grain for As, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Hf, La, Sb, Sc, Sr, Th and U were below the detection limit. However, for the four varieties, average concentrations in the whole grain (μg/g on a dry weight basis) were as follows: Br 6.55; Ca 609; Cl 651; Fe 43.3; K 4090; Mg 1460; Mn 38.5; Na 17.7; Rb 2.26; Se 0.56; and Zn 20.7. Mercury was also detected in cultivar TAM101 at a concentration of 97 ng/g. The correlation between the elements appeared to depend on the particle size distribution.