Factor analysis and cluster analysis of mineral elements contents in different blueberry cultivars

The mineral element characteristics of different blueberry cultivars were studied to provide a scientific basis for blueberry nutrition evaluation, blueberry consumption and parent selection. In the study, the contents of 10 elements in 21 blueberry cultivars were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP–AES) and were analyzed by SPSS 20.0. The average contents of the 10 mineral elements followed the order K > P > Ca > Mg > Mn = Na > Fe > Zn > Cu > B. Blueberries can contribute significantly to the recommended nutrient intake (RNI) of Mn. The 21 blueberry cultivars were divided into 5 groups by cluster analysis: (1) high K and low Ca and Mn cultivars, (2) high B, P, Ca, Mg, Mn, and K cultivars, (3) high Cu and low Na cultivars, (4) high Zn, Na, and Fe cultivars, and (5) high B and low K cultivars. ‘Herbert’, ‘Jersey’, ‘Lateblue’, ‘Northblue’, ‘D–II’, ‘Puru’, and ‘Bluecrop’ were included in cluster (2) and (4), which had high comprehensive scores of factor analysis and strong absorption capacities of mineral elements.