Abstract:

The goal of this study was to evaluate nutritional and medicinal values of trace elements in fruits of fifty grafted
jujube varieties introduced in Tarim Basin, Xinjiang. The contents of ten trace elements including six beneficial elements
such as Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Ca and Se as well as four harmful elements such as Cd, As, Hg and Pb were measured by atomic
absorption spectrophotometry and atomic fluorescence spectrophotometry, respectively. Based on changes in trace element
contents, cluster analysis of jujube varieties was conducted using Euclidean distance. The results showed that all 50 jujube
varieties tested were rich in microelements. Among the ten elements analyzed, the contents of Ca and Fe in “Hama” jujube
were the highest, while Se was less abundant than other elements. The contents of four harmful elements were lower than
the maximum levels stipulated in the Chinese National Standard (GB 2762—2012) except for slightly higher contents of Hg
in “Yiwu Dazao” and “Jinling Changzao” jujubes. Conclusions: Fifty introduced jujube varieties contain multiple beneficial
microelements at relatively high contents with high safety. The results can provide a basis for breeding special jujube
varieties suitable for developing medicinal and edible products in the future.

Key words: Zizyphus jujuba Mill., microelements, microwave digestion, atomic absorption spectrometry, cluster analysis