Comparison of seven metallic elements in prismatic layer and nacreous layer of shells from four shell color strains in pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata)

We analyzed the contents of seven metallic elements in prismatic layer and nacreous layer of shells from four shell color strains (B), gold (G), red (R) and white (W) in pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata) by ICP-AES. The Fe, K, Mg and Mn contents in prismatic layer were obviously higher than those in nacreous layer. TheMg, Sr, K and Zn contents in prismatic layer of black shell were the lowest. Similarly, the Mn and Fe contents in prismatic layer of gold shell were lower than those in the other color shells, but Na had minimum content in red shell. Fe, Mg and Zn might haveinfluence on the formation of red, gold and white shells. Besides, the nacreous layer of white shell had the lowest content of analytical elements except Mg, which indicates that the white shell in pearl oysters is more likely to produce pearls of better quality.