Possible effects of heavy metal (Cu) and simulated acid rain stresses on mrna expression levels of FAD2 gene responsible for linoleic acid transduction of oleic acid and some ecophysiological traits in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

In this study, the effects of heavy metal (Cu) and acid rain stresses on mRNA expression levels of the FAD2 gene, which is responsible for the conversion of oleic acid to linoleic acid, and plant height before and after stress, fresh and dry weight, root length, water content, chlorophyll a, b and total carotenoid content were determined in some safflower (Carthamus tinctorious L.) cultivars (LİNAS, BALCI and BDYAS-04). Also, it was tried to specified how and to what extent plants are affected by these stress factors. Safflower individuals used for molecular analyzes were grown in the climate cabinet, and individuals used for the determination of ecophysiological characteristics were grown in the climate chamber; in pots containing perlite. In order to determine the effects of copper and acid rain stresses, four different experimental sets were formed: the control group, the experimental group in which different concentrations of copper solution were applied, the experiment group in which acid rain simulation was applied at different pH levels, and the experimental group that was exposed to the combined effect of copper and acid rain stresses. As a result of the experiments, it was determined that Cu and acid rain stresses caused significant changes in the investigated properties of safflower cultivars. It was observed that when safflower individuals are exposed to both copper and acid rain stresses, more negative effects occurred on the investigated traits. The results suggest that high concentrations of copper and acid rain simulation applications also have an extra effect by creating water stress in plants.