Translocation and accumulation of boron in roots and shoots of plants grown in soils of low boron concentration in Turkey's Keban Pb-Zn mining area

Int J Phytoremediation. 2008 Jul-Aug:10:302-10. doi: 10.1080/15226510802096119.

Abstract

Boron (B) concentrations were investigated in both shoots and roots of Euphorbia macroclada, Verbascum cheiranthifolium, and Astragalus gummifer grown in soil of the Keban, Turkey, Lead-zinc-copper-fluoride mining area, which has an arid climate. Soil B concentrations were also investigated. Plants and their associated soil samples were collected and analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Total B concentrations of soils in the study area were very low (mean: 4.97 mg kg(-1)) as compared with those in surface soils in other countries. Boron concentrations of plant organs were several times higher than those in their associated soils. The mean values of B concentrations in roots of E. macroclada, V. cheiranthifolium, and A. gummifer were 25, 70, and 69 mg kg(-1), respectively, while those in shoots were 75, 115, and 77 mg kg(-1), respectively. Results indicate that roots and shoots of plants grown in soils with low B concentrations can be used both as biomonitors for environmental contamination and biogeochemical indicators for B.

MeSH terms

  • Boron / chemistry
  • Boron / metabolism*
  • Industrial Waste
  • Lead / chemistry*
  • Mining
  • Plant Roots / metabolism*
  • Plant Shoots / metabolism*
  • Soil / analysis*
  • Soil Pollutants
  • Turkey
  • Zinc / chemistry*

Substances

  • Industrial Waste
  • Soil
  • Soil Pollutants
  • Lead
  • Zinc
  • Boron