Metal-accumulating plants from serpentine habitats of Kızıldağ, Konya Province, Turkey

Abstract

Serpentine (ultramafic) soils are generally deficient in essential plant nutrients such as phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) and often also have elevated concentrations of toxic trace elements such as, for example, nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr) and manganese (Mn). However, some serpentine areas have a species-rich plant cover, often with a few endemics. Thus, serpentine areas host valuable bioresources for understanding plant–metal interactions. In the present study, metal-accumulating plants from serpentine habitats in Kızıldağ, Konya Province, Turkey, viz., Aethionema spicatum, Alyssum murale ssp. murale var. murale, Arenaria acerosa, Bornmuellera kiyakii, Cerastium macranthum, Dianthus crinitus. var. crinitus, Dianthus zonatus var. hypochlorus, Iberis sempervirens, Minuartia anatolica var. anatolica, Noccaea camlikensis, Saponoria kotschyi and Silene ozyurtii, belonging to the families Brassicaceae and Caryophyllaceae, were investigated. All plant specimens collected were deposited in the Herbarium of the Biology Department of Akdeniz University. Samples of different plant parts, namely roots, stems, leaves and flowers, were analysed for Ni, Cr, cobalt (Co), Mn, copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy. Noccaea camlikensis, Alyssum murale and Bornmuellera kiyakii accumulated 16 650 μg g–1, 12 570 μg g–1 and 8780 μg g–1 Ni, respectively. Noccaea camlikensis is a new addition to the list of Ni hyperaccumulators. The majority of the floristic elements investigated were found to be tolerant to serpentine soil chemistry. A small proportion of the plant assemblages were endemics. Nickel hyperaccumulators were the least abundant in terms of number of species. The study assumes importance in understanding bioconcentration in different plants and, eventually, for gaining a knowledge of plant–metal interactions and applications in biogeochemistry and bioprospecting for metals, including phytoremediation.