title: Characterization and prediction by near-infrared reflectance of mineral composition of rocket (Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa and Eruca vesicaria subsp. vesicaria).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Minerals are essential for human nutrition and must be obtained from our diet. Crucifer vegetables are a good source of these nutrients. Our objectives were to determine the genetic variability for mineral content and to evaluate the use of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) for prediction of ashes and minerals among and within the rocket species Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa and vesicaria. The minerals studied were iron (Fe), copper (Cu), sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The maximum mean values obtained for all the accessions (mean ± SE) were 235.5 ± 1.5 mg ashes kg(-1), 273.3 ± 4.2 mg Fe kg(-1), 18.1 ± 0.4 mg Cu kg(-1), 2.8 ± 0.1 g Na kg(-1), 71.6 ± 1.0 g K kg(-1), 64.6 ± 1.2 g Ca kg(-1), 6.8 ± 0.1 g mg kg(-1), 101.6 ± 1.2 mg Mn kg(-1), and 67.1 ± 0.4 mg Zn kg(-1) of dry weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The statistical analysis showed significant differences for all the minerals, except Ca, for each accession studied individually and for accessions grouped within countries. The results indicate that NIRS can be used as a rapid screening method for determining total mineral, Fe, Na, K, and Zn in rocket.
authors: Area de Mejora y biotecnología, IFAPA-Centro Alameda del Obispo, Córdoba, Spain. myriamm.villatoro@juntadeandalucia.es
authors: Myriam
authors: M
authors: Villatoro-Pulido
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Moreno Rojas
authors: Andrés
authors: A
authors: Muñoz-Serrano
authors: Vanessa
authors: V
authors: Cardeñosa
authors: Manuel Ángel
authors: MÁ
authors: Amaro López
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Font
authors: Mercedes
authors: M
authors: Del Río-Celestino
mesh_terms: D019607:Brassicaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis*; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / Q000379:methods*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D014131:Trace Elements