The effect on physiological and biochemical changes with growth parameters of seaweed in echinacea under the salt stress (Echinaceae purpurea L.)

THE EFFECT ON PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES WITH GROWTH PARAMETERS OF SEAWEED IN ECHINACEA UNDER THE SALT STRESS (Echinaceae purpurea L.) KARA, Alya M.Sc. Thesis, Field Crops Thesis Advisor: Prof. Dr. Murat TUNCTURK January, 2019 This study was carried out to determine the effects of different salt sources (control, NaCl, KCl and CaCl2) and seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) extract concentrations (control, 2, 4 and 6 ml/L) applications on physiological and biochemical growth parameters of Echinacea (Echinaceae purpurea L.). The factorial experiment based on completely randomized design performed in growth chamber conditions with four replicates. Different parameters including root length, shoot length, root and shoot fresh weight, root and shoot dry weight, leaf area, chlorophyll content, ion leakage in leaf tissues, lipid peroxidation level (MDA), relative water content in leaf tissues, membrane endurance index, total antioxidant and total phenolic content were measured. Results showed that salt stress decreased root fresh and dry weight, shoot fresh and dry weight, root and shoot length, leaf area, chlorophyll content, membrane endurance index, relative water content in leaf tissues. On the other hand, lipid peroxidation levels (MDA), ion leakage in leaf tissues, total antioxidant and phenolic substance amount were increased. Also, seaweed application reduced the negative effects of salt stress. All of the parameters increased significantly except for lipid peroxidation level (MDA) and ion leakage in leaf tissues due to seaweed applications. Key words: Seaweed, Echinaceae purpurea L. salt stress