Multiple element concentration in the grain of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) collection

Multiple element analyses were carried out to investigate variation in element concentrations in barley grains of 336 genotypes. Of 13 elements analyzed, Ba ranged from 0.2 to 8.9 mg kg−1, Ca from 186.4 to 977.5 mg kg−1, Cu from 1.5 to 9.8 mg kg−1, K from 353.2 to 7721.5 mg kg−1, Mg from 1049.8 to 2024.2 mg kg−1, Mn from 8.1 to 22.9 mg kg−1, Na from 55.9 to 627.9 mg kg−1, P from 2272.9 to 5428.8 mg kg−1, S from 880.7 to 1898.0 mg kg−1, Si from 19.1 to 663.2 mg kg−1, and Sr from 0.35 to 2.62 mg kg−1 in the barley grain. The least square means showed high Zn, Fe, Mg, P, and S concentration in AM-64 and AM-228 genotypes. The principal component analysis of element concentration showed four PCs explained 64.3% total variance. Strong positive correlations (p < 0.001) of Fe-Mn, Fe-S, S-Mn, Zn-P, Zn-Mg, Mg-P, Mg-Mn, and Ca-Sr were found. The identification barley genotypes that showed high elements concentration furnish valuable genetic resources for biofortification in future.