The physiological effects of crude oil on some agricultural species and varieties of beans and chickpeas

In this study, it was aimed to investigate physiological mechanisms of the tolerance displayed by legume varieties such as Cicer arientum cv. ışık, Cicer arientum cv. yaşa, Cicer arientum cv. aziziye. and Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv.alman ayşe, Phaseolus vulgaris L.cv.magnum , to be planted along the Baku-Tiflis-Ceyhan (BTC) crude oil pipeline against the environmental stress caused by crude oil externally applied to the soil by 1%, 5%, and 10% (g / kg soil) rates. Therefore, the root and stem growths, fresh and dry weights, leaf relative water content, photosynthetic pigment materials, total protein, proline and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activities were determined. According to our results, each of the cultivars, even two cultivars of the same species, gave different physiological responses. When the growth parameters were analyzed, a decrease was observed in photosynthetic pigment contents of other cultures whereas an increase was observed in the Cicer arientum cv. ışık. The increase observed in the relative water contents of Cicer arientum cv. yaşa and Cicer arientum cv. ışık indicates that these varieties developed a kind of tolerance mechanism. In addition, the greatest increase in the SOD activity took place in Phaseolus vulgaris L.cv.magnum and Cicer arientum cv. ışık. In conclusion, the results of our experiments revealed that the most tolerant cultivars were Phaseolus vulgaris L.cv.magnum among the varieties of beans and Cicer arientum cv. ışık among the varieties of chickpeas.