Determination of mineral elements in the embryos of normal and abnormal embryo of flare tree peony by ICP-AES

In order to find the cause of somatic embryo aberrance in the process of somatic embryogenesis in vitro of flare tree peony, the samples were digested by HNO₃+HClO₄(4:1), 14 mineral elements (K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Li, Ni, B, Ag, Cd, Pb) in normal embryos in vivo and the abnormal somatic embryos in vitro were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry(ICP-AES). The results showed that the standard curves for 14 elements obtained were with good linearity, the measuring method was with high precision and multi-elements could be analyzed at the same time. 12 mineral elements (Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, Pb, K, Na, B, Li, Ni) were determined in the normal embryo in vivo. While, among the 11 mineral elements (Ca, Mg, Zn, Mn, Fe, Pb, K, Na, B, Li, Cd) determined in the abnormal somatic embryo in vitro, there were 6 elements (Mg, Zn, Fe, K, Na, Li) that the contents were lower than those in the normal embryo, and the contents of Ca, Mn, Pb, B and Cd were higher than those in the normal one. Cu and Ni were not detected in the abnormal somatic embryo, but Cd was detected. These results can offer a reference on mineral elements for finding the causation of somatic embryo aberrance in the process of somatic embryogenesis in vitro of flare tree peony.