Heavy metal status of pear trees grown in Southeastern Marmara Region of Turkey

Abstract

This study was managed to characterise the metal accumulation in the soils, fruits and leaves of pear (Pyrus communis L.) trees located in the southeastern Marmara region of Turkey. The research was performed in 76 orchards. The pear cultivars were `Deveci' and 'Santa Maria' in towns of Bursa province. To determine levels of pollution, soils and aboveground parts (leaf, fruit flesh and fruit peel) of the trees were sampled and analysed for some metals. Total amounts of Cr were found to be at the excessive levels in soils. Nickel concentrations were slightly higher than the permissible ranges in minority of the soils. Contrarily, their concentrations in the different plant parts were not at the toxic level. Because of lack of standard concentrations indicating excessive concentration of extractable elements, statuses of extractable elements in the soils were not evaluated. Metal accumulation in the trees were not estimated by both leaf and fruit analysis. As a result, the appearance of metals in soils might be due to agricultural activities and parent material. Continuous monitoring and future studies of the pear orchards are recommended to ascertain long-term impacts of pollution on the trees.