Analysis of macro- and Microminerals Content in the Einkorn (Triticum monococcum L.) Samples Cultivated in Kastamonu, Turkey

Abstract

Wheat is an important cereal product because of its nutritional value, economy, culture, and history.Einkorn (Triticum monococcum L.) assumed as the oldest wheat. Einkorn locally called “siyez” hasrecently become popular as a super grain with the thought of being very nutritious in Turkey. In thisstudy, the contents of macrominerals (Na, Mg, Ca, and K) and microminerals (Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn andZn) in twenty-one einkorn samples collected from different cultivation areas in Kastamonu weredetermined by using an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry followingmicrowave-assisted acid digestion. The results were compared with those analyzed in einkorn andother wheat types in the literature. Average concentrations of K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cr and Cuanalyzed in einkorn samples were found as 3712, 1303, 656, 53, 167, 34, 29, 0,7 and 0,6 mg kg-1,respectively. The literature comparison revealed that the investigated einkorn samples were richerin terms of Ca and Fe contents compared to einkorn, emmer, spelt, buckwheat, and durum wheatsamples grown in our country and different countries.