t In this study, we determined the heavy
metal content (Cd2+, Cr3+, Cu2+, Fe3+, Ni2+,
Pb2+, and Zn2+) in the soil surrounding the roots
and different organs of Verbascum bombyciferum
Boiss. (Scrophulariaceae), which is endemic to
Uludag Mountain, Bursa, Turkey. Plant samples ˘
were collected from roadsides, and heavy metal
accumulation capabilities were tested. This is one
of the pioneer species of ruderal plant communities on roadsides, building sites, rubbish dumps,
etc. Different organs of plant samples (roots,
stems, leaves, and flowers) and their soils were
analyzed by inductively couple plasma optical
emission spectroscopy for their heavy metal contents. Some of the analyzed heavy metals (Cd2+,
Cr3+, Pb2+, and Zn2+) were usually increased depending on the traffic in the sample sites, and
this variation was also reflected in heavy metal
content of plant samples. Our results show that
H. Arslan (B) · G. Güleryüz
Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Science,
University of Uludag, Görükle 16059, Bursa, Turkey ˘
e-mail:
[email protected]
Z. Leblebici · A. Aksoy
Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts & Science,
University of Erciyes, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey
S. Kırmızı
Gemlik Asım Kocabıyık Graduate Vocational School,
Uludag University, Gemlik, 16600, Bursa, Turkey ˘
this plant can be used as a bio-indicator species
in the monitoring of increased Cd2+, Cr3+, Pb2+,
and Zn2+ in the environment. We also concluded
that V. bombyciferum have the capability of Cd2+,
Cr3+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, and Zn2+ accumulation.
