The effect of some beneficial bacteria and seaweed on zucchini crops under salt stress conditions

In this study, plant growth and development parameters of gum gourd (Cucurbita pepo) under normal (0 mM) and salt stress (200 mM NaCl) conditions were investigated by applying PGPR (Arthrobacter, Azospirillum lipoferum, Bacillus subtilis) and seaweed extract alone or in combination. In this study, plant growth parameters (stem height, stem diameter, number of leaves, number of flowers, number of flowers, internode distance, root length), fresh and dry weights of green parts and roots (leaf wet weight, stem wet weight, flower wet weight, green parts total plant wet weight, leaf dry weight, stem dry weight, flower dry weight, total plant dry weight of green parts), physiological parameters (chlorophyll content, photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, internal carbon dioxide content, leaf temperature), nutrient analysis (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Zn, Fe, Cu) and toxic elements (Na and Cl), visual scale evaluation, color measurement values (L*, a*, b*, C, hue) were investigated. In the study, the best results in growth and weight parameters under normal conditions (NC) were obtained with Azospirillum lipoferum (AzL) and Seaweed (DY) treatments. Under salt stress, the combination of Bacillus and DY stood out. In physiological parameters, AzL treatments were most effective in NK and combination treatments in salt stress. In nutrient uptake, DY combinations in NK and Komb (ArtB+AzL+Bcs+DY) in salt stress gave the best results. In terms of toxic elements, Komb (ArtB+AzL+Bcs+DY) had the lowest values, while AzL in NK and ArtB and its combinations under stress stood out in color measurements. In our study, combination treatments showed positive effects in both conditions.