title: Determining the geographic origin of potatoes using mineral and trace element content.
abstract: To characterize potatoes according to their geographic origin and variety, 10 mineral and trace elements (Mg, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Cd, and Ba) were determined in Italian potato samples. The data collected were successively elaborated using statistical techniques, namely, linear discriminant analysis (LDA). LDA was able to classify and discriminate the potatoes from Fucino both from those of other areas of Italy and from those of the four provinces of Abruzzo. A net separation between the Fucino potatoes and those of the other areas of Abruzzo was observed. LDA discriminated also the three potato varieties cultivated in the Fucino basin. The presence of these 10 mineral and trace elements was a good means for establishing the geographical place of origin of Fucino potatoes.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze, Università G. D'Annunzio, Viale Pindaro 42, 65127 Pescara, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Giacomo
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Del Signore
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giaccio
mesh_terms: D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D007558:Italy; D016014:Linear Models; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis*; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D014131:Trace Elements