Boron and Molybdenum Contents of Verbascum olympicum boiss. Growing Around an Abandoned Tungsten Mine: A Case Study for Ecological Problem Solving

Abstract

Interactions among micro-elements can affect their uptake by plants. Thus, it is important to evaluate nutrient interactions when designing phytoremediation strategies. In this study, the competitive or complementary effects between B and Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Pb, Zn, and W elements in leaf tissues of Verbascum olympicum Boiss. (Scrophulariaceae) were evaluated. This species is one of the main endemic species growing around the abandoned Etibank tungsten mine at Uludağ Mountain (Bursa, Turkey). Leaf and soil samples were collected from unpolluted and polluted areas around the mine. Inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometry was used to determine the levels of selected elements in soil samples and in leaves of V. olympicum. Classical open wet and Kjeldahl digestion methods were used to process the samples. The analytical accuracy was guaranteed using two kinds of certified reference materials. Complementary behaviors of B and Mo were observed in leaves of V. olympicum, but not in the soil. This result provides information on the adaptation properties of this species in a polluted area