Variation of Mineral Compositions in the Regional, Varietal, and Seasonal Mulberry Leaves

This study was carried out to investigate the mineral content in the regional, varietal and seasonal mulberry leaves. On average, mulberry leaf samples contained minerals in the order of potassiumi phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron and so on (2.494 g/100 g, 2.255 g/100 g, 1.835 g/100 g, 0.627 g/100 g, 0.0245 g/100 g DW, respectively). Calcium content was 19-fold and 4-fold higher than that of green tea and spinach, respectively, suggesting that mulberry loaves appear to be a calcium-rich food source. In the comparison of geographic samples of Cheongilppong variety, calcium bevel was highest in Youngchun sample (2.477 g/100 g) and highest potassium level in Suwon sample (2.962 g/100 g). In the geographic samples of YK209 variety, Jinju-City sample was highest in calcium content (1.509 g/100 g). Among wild mulberry loaves collected from Cheju Island and Tsushima, potassium level was highest in Bongge-dong, Cheiu City (3.865 g/100 g) and calcium level in Mitshshima Town, Tsushima (2.948 g/100 g). In the comparison of varietal samples collected in Suwon at the mulberry field of Dept. of Sericulture & entomology, Shinkwangppong variety was highest in the potassium levels although Keryangppong and Shinkwangppong were higher in calcium revel. In the comparison of seasonal samples of Cheongilppong, there was a rough trend of increase in some minerals up to July (e.g., calcium rind )potassium). Finding of the highest calcium and potassium contents in the wild mulberry (3.865 g/100 g and 2.948 g/100 g, respectively) rather than in the cultivated ones warrant that more focus should be paid to wild mulberry leaves to utilize their minerals effciently.