Nickel Hyperaccumulation in Bornmuellera kiyakii Aytaç & Aksoy and Associated Plants of the Brassicaceae from Kızıldağ (Derebucak, Konya-Turkey)

Abstract

Recent exploration of an area of ultramafic geology in south-western Turkey led to the discovery and description of a new species, Bornmuellera kiyakii Aytac & Aksoy (Brassicaceae). This was of particular interest to us because of the earlier discovery of nickel hyperaccumulation (Ni concentrations exceeding 0.1% of plant dry weight) in 6 other taxa in this small genus from Albania, Greece, and Turkey. We report herein that B. kiyakii is also a Ni hyperaccumulator, based on a population near Camlik that showed a mean Ni concentration exceeding 8000 mg kg-1 of dried leaf material. Several other members of the Brassicaceae at the same site-species of Alyssum L., Pseudosempervivum (Boiss.) Grossh. (formerly in Cochlearia L.) and Thlaspi L.-also act as Ni hyperaccumulators.