Pak. J. Bot., 47(SI): 133-138, 2015.

ESSENTIAL AND NONESSENTIAL METAL CONCENTRATIONS IN MOREL

MUSHROOM (MORCHELLA ESCULENTA) IN DIR-KOHISTAN, PAKISTAN

JUMA MOHAMMAD1,2*, SARDAR KHAN1*, MUHAMMAD TAHIR SHAH3,

ISLAM-UD-DIN4 AND ADNAN AHMED5

1Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Pakistan

2Department of Environmental Sciences, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Sheringal, Dir Upper, Pakistan

3National Center of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Pakistan

4Department of Environmental Science, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan

5Department of Forestry, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Sheringal, Dir Upper, Pakistan

*Corresponding author’s email: jumamohammad27@yahoo.com; sardar.khan2008@yahoo.com

Tel: 0092 944 885832; Fax 0092 944 885805

Abstract

Dir-Kohistan (Pakistan) is a famous habitat of morel mushroom species and particularly rich with yellow morel

(Morchella esculenta). This study was conducted to investigate both essential and non-essential metal concentrations in M.

esculenta and soil collected from the study area. Results indicated that M. esculenta accumulated enough amounts of

essential metals (Na, K, Ca, Fe and Zn). The nonessential metal concentrations in M. esculenta were below the maximum

permissible limits set by WHO/FAO. Low concentrations of nonessential/toxic metals in mushroom could be linked with

low human activities such as less application of agrochemicals and no mining activities in the study area. The daily intake

rate (DIR) of M. esculenta showed that toxic metals were not a serious threat to the human health due to less edible uses and

lower concentrations of toxic heavy metals. Statistical analyses, like inter-elemental coefficient, revealed a positive

correlation between the selected metals, while weak linear correlations were observed between the essential and toxic metals

in M. esculenta and associated soil.

Key words: Mushroom, M. esculenta, Essential metals, Toxic metals, Bioaccumulation, H