The study area does not have heavy metal contamination. Nevertheless, the Cd, Cu, and Zn contents detected in the majority of mushroom samples were relatively higher than the contents in soil samples collected from beneath them. | Research Article Turk J Bot 36 (2012) 519-528 © TÜBİTAK doi: Trace metal contents of some wild-growing mushrooms in Bigadiç (Balıkesir), Turkey İsmail ŞEN1, Hakan ALLI1,*, Bekir ÇÖL1, Mustafa ÇELİKKOLLU2, Ahmet BALCI3 1 Biology Department, Science Faculty, Muğla University, 48170 Muğla - TURKEY 2 Zihni Derin Laboratory, Office of Provincial Agriculture, 48000 Muğla - TURKEY 3 Chemistry Department, Science Faculty, Muğla University, 48170 Muğla - TURKEY Received: ● Accepted: Abstract: In this study, heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, and Zn) contents of wild-growing mushrooms and soil samples collected from Bigadiç (Balıkesir) were determined. A total of 38 fungal taxa were found in the study area. Among the mushroom samples analysed, minimum and maximum metal contents were mg kg−1 for Cd, mg kg−1 for Cr, mg kg−1 for Cu, mg kg−1 for Mn, and mg kg−1 for Zn. For all elements, values are within the acceptable levels as reported by several researchers. Hohenbuehelia petaloides (Bull.) Schulzer had the lowest elemental composition for all elements. Metal contents of the soil samples were also within acceptable levels. Therefore, the study area does not have heavy metal contamination. Nevertheless, the Cd, Cu, and Zn contents detected in the majority of mushroom samples were relatively higher than the contents in soil samples collected from beneath them. Key words: Heavy metal, mushroom, Balıkesir, Turkey Introduction For a considerable length of time, trace element contents of wild-growing mushrooms have been investigated in numerous studies (Demirbaş, 2001; Yılmaz et al., 2003; Isildak et al., 2004; Turkekul et al., 2004; Yamaç et al., 2007; Chen et al., 2009; Gençcelep et al., 2009; Kaya & Bag, 2010; Radulescu et al., 2010; Şen et al., 2012). It is known that mushrooms can accumulate some metals, such as cadmium, mercury, and lead (Kalač & Svoboda, 2000). Although .
