Investigation of Micro‐Nutrient Elemental Distribution in a Black Wheat ( <i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) Grain Using Synchrotron Assisted Microprobe X‐Ray Fluorescence Analysis at Indus‐2

ABSTRACT Spatial localization of various essential dietary elements present in a black wheat ( Triticum aestivum L .) grain has been investigated using synchrotron assisted micro X‐ray fluorescence measurements at BL‐16 beamline of Indus‐2 synchrotron facility. The results showed that most of the important dietary minerals like calcium (Ca), potassium (K), manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) are present in the aleurone and scutellum regions of a grain and they exhibited positive co‐localization among themselves except Ca and Mn, which were localized in the outer part of bran layer region. However, in the case of crease tissue region of the wheat grain, relatively higher amount of zinc (Zn) exists which shows positive correlation with copper (Cu). These results are found to be in close agreement with the earlier investigations of other varieties of wheat grains. Our results show that using synchrotron assisted microprobe X‐ray fluorescence measurements at BL‐16 beamline of Indus‐2 synchrotron facility, it is possible to collect high quality X‐ray fluorescence images to determine elemental heterogeneity in a biological specimen especially those comprising of low Z (hydrogen, carbon, oxygen) matrix.