Title:	Elemental composition of Xanthosoma sagittifolium in the Amazon: nutritional value and potential as an environmental bioindicator in the context of Amazonian edaphic variability.
Authors:	BASTOS, R. V. LOPES, M. T. G. TOMAZ, J. S. BEZERRA, C. de S. BORGES, C. K. G. D. MARQUES, R. L. S. LOPES, R. VALENTE, M. S. F. PEREIRA, A. M.
Affiliation:	RONALDO VITORIANO BASTOS, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO AMAZONAS; MARIA TERESA GOMES LOPES, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO AMAZONAS; JENNIFER SOUZA TOMAZ, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO AMAZONAS; CAROLINE DE SOUZA BEZERRA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO AMAZONAS; CARLA KAROLINE GOMES DUTRA BORGES, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO AMAZONAS; RICARDO LÍVIO SANTOS MARQUES, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO AMAZONAS; RICARDO LOPES, CPAA; MÁGNO SÁVIO FERREIRA VALENTE, INSTITUTO FEDERAL DO AMAZONAS; ANDERSON MATHIAS PEREIRA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO AMAZONAS.
Date Issued:	2026
Citation:	Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 2026.
Description:	Xanthosoma sagittifolium (taioba) is an unconventional food plant of nutritional and socioenvironmental relevance. This study evaluated its elemental composition in five municipalities of Amazonas (Manaus, Itacoatiara, Novo Airão, Humaitá, and Tabatinga) to analyze its nutritional potential and use as an environmental bioindicator in the context of Amazonian edaphic variability. Rhizospheric soil and leaf samples were analyzed by total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF). The results showed geochemical heterogeneity between the localities: soils of Tabatinga and Humaitá presented high concentrations of aluminum and iron, while the leaves revealed higher levels of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and sulfur, especially in floodplain environments and seasonally flooded soils. The analysis of main components (PCA) showed clear separation between municipalities, confirming the edaphic influence on the mineral composition of the species. Positive correlations between nutrients (P, S, Si, K) and trace elements (Cr, Yb) indicated physiological adaptive mechanisms of absorption. The findings reinforce the dual role of taioba as both a food resource with high nutritional value and as a bio-indicator sensitive to environmental quality. However, the presence of traces of potentially toxic elements highlights the need for continuous monitoring to ensure the safety of human consumption and to broaden understanding of taioba in Amazonian ecosystems.
Thesagro:	Xanthosoma Sagittifolium Taioba
NAL Thesaurus:	Food safety Heavy metals Environmental quality
Keywords:	Phenotypic variability TXRF spectrometry
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.15244/pjoes/214924
Notes:	Online first.
Type of Material:	Artigo de periódico
Access:	openAccess
Appears in Collections:	Artigo em periódico indexado (CPAA)