Investigation of Mineral Nutrient and Heavy Metal Accumulation Status of Senecio Vernalis Waldst. & Kit. Collected from Different Habitats of Aksaray/Turkey

In this study, Senecio vernalis Waldst. & Kit. was analyzed to determine a phytoremediation potential and nutritional contents are estimated. The plant and soil samples were collected between Karaoren and Karkin villages in Aksaray in May (2021). The mineral contents (Al, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, P, S, Zn) of the collected plant and soil samples were determined by ICP-MS and the obtained data were analyzed statistically. In soil, Ca, Fe, K and Zn values were in the optimal value whereas Al, Cu, Mg, Mn and Ni values were above the optimal values. This means that there is bioaccumulation of these heavy metals (Al, Cu, Mg, Mn and Ni) in the soil. Likewise, the concentrations of Ca, Cu, K, Mn and Zn in the plant were among the optimum values, while Al, Fe, Mg, and Ni ratios were higher than the quantification limit. The rate of these metals in the roots and other shoots of the plant are higher than in the soil. Our results showed that Senecio vernalis is a very good accumulator of Fe, Mg and Ni, and also the phytoextraction and phytoremediation ability of the plant is high.