[Mineral elements content of C. deserticola at different growth stages].

ICP - AES technology was used to determine the mineral elements content of Cistanche deserticola Ma (C. deserticola). The results showed that: (1) At succulent stem stages, the content of K was the highest in 5 macroelements, it can reach to 9.45 mg x g(-1), and the proportion for K : Na : P : Ca : Mg was 12 : 3.4 : 1.6 : 1.4 : 1. Among 5 microelements, the content of Fe was the highest and can reach to 97.31 microg x g(-1), and the proportion for Fe : Cu : Mn: Zn : Cu : B was 25 : 3.7 : 3.5 : 1.2 : 1. (2) At reproductive growth stages, the contents of Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn and B at unearthed stage were significantly higher than that at the underearth stage, especially for the content of Fe and Mn, they can respectively reach to 697. 55 and 38.75 microg x g(-1) at capsule formative stage. The contents of Fe and Mn at capsule formative stage were almost 7.2 and 8.3 times than that at succulent stem stage. (3) At reproductive growth stages, the aerial part will exclude Na and accumulate P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and B. This result of the study will be a scientific basis for evaluating the quality of C. deserticola.