ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION OF SOME ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT LESS EXPLORED ALLIUM CULTIVARS OF WESTERN HIMALAYAN REGION

Abstract

Elemental composition of some economically important less explored Allium species namely Allium auriculatum Kunth, Allium  ampeloprasum L., Allium ascalonicum, Allium rubellum M: Bieb. and Allium tuberosum L., was carried out. These species are distributed in temperate and alpine regions of Western Himalayas. The edible part i.e. leaves and bulbs of these species were analyzed
separately for some important minerals like sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, sulfur, copper, zinc, iron, manganese and cobalt. Among these Allium species maximum concentration of phosphorus, and sodium were found in the leaves of A. ampeloprasum. The leaves of A. ascalonicum were rich in calcium and manganese. Highest sulfur content was present in the leaves of A. auriculatum while, in its bulbs maximum zinc was reported . Iron and copper were observed maximum in the bulbs of A. rubellum. This study showed that The leaves of A. ampeloprasum are rich source of minerals followed by A. rubellum bulbs and A. ascalonicum. The quantitative yield of A. ampeloprasum, Allium rubellum and A. ascalonicum were also found better than other species. Hence these Allium species can be exploited for commercial cultivation in Western Himalayan region.