Comparative time-course mineral content study between healthy and diseased picea trees from polluted areas

In connection with our previous biochemical comparative study on healthy and diseased Picea trees from polluted areas we have now measured the nutrient contents in the same needle samples. 540 small samples were processed in a very short time (25 min for each sample) using microwave digestion in HNO₃. Al, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Sr, and Zn were then simultaneously determined by ICP-AES analysis. This rapid and simple micromethod is briefly described and results of the comparison between healthy and diseased Picea trees are presented and discussed in the light of our previous results, particularly that of putrescine and polyamines which have been reported to accumulate in response to cell mineral deficiencies.