1Department of Post Harvest Technology, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur
2Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Thrissur, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur-680656, India
3All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Floriculture, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur-680656
*E-mail : anupama.tv@kau.in
Online published on 6 October, 2020.
In The Present Paper, mineral composition of edible lichen viz. Parmotrema tinctorum (Nyl.) Hale (Parmeliaceae) from the hill areas of Wayanad, Kerala was evaluated. the content of sixteen elements, viz., calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, cobalt, aluminium, vanadium, phosphorus, arsenic, lead and cadmium was estimated by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP OES) after microwave assisted acid digestion. Potassium and sodium content were detected by flame photometry. Parmotrema tinctorum is found to contain appreciably higher quantities of calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium. the heavy metals, viz., arsenic, lead and cadmium were below the permissible limits. Mineral analysis of lichen Parmotrema tinctorum proves the nutritional benefits of this lichen.
Elemental composition, ICP OES, Lichen, Wayanad, Parmotrema tinctorum
