TRACE-ELEMENT CONCENTRATIONS IN WINES BY ICP-MS - EVIDENCE FOR THE ROLE OF SOLUBILITY IN DETERMINING UPTAKE BY PLANTS

Biology, soil mineralogy and solution geochemistry, can all contribute to controlling element uptake by plants. Elements determined by Induc tively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) in Okanagan Valley wi nes form five geochemical groups: two ''Cu-loving''; one ''Fe-loving'' , and two ''Si-loving''. The groupings cannot be due to variations in soil mineralogy because the soils are very similar. Grouping apparentl y reflects solubility responses to changes in soil acidity and oxidati on. If so, plants may be limited in their ability to enhance uptake/ex clusion of an element without comparably affecting geochemically simil ar elements.