THE EFFECTS OF ETHYL METHANESULFONATE APPLICATIONS ON CONTENTS OF MACRO AND MICRO ELEMENTS IN SUNFLOWER (HELIANTHUS ANNUUS L.) CULTIVATED IN VITRO UNDER SALINE CONDITIONS

Salt tolerant cultivars of sunflower can be obtained from induced mutation. The objective of the present study was to induce mutation for salt tolerance using ethylmethanesulphonate (EMS) in sunflower, followed by plant regeneration in In vitro under saline conditions and determine the effect of salinity stress on macro and micro plant nutritions of the leaves of two sunflower cultivars (Cetin Bey and Palanci I). Kernel of seed of "Cetin Bey" and "Palanci I" cultivars were kept in EMS solution at different doses (0, 0-1, 0-1, 5% and 2,0%) and taken into In vitro culture containing NaCl at different doses (0,01,25-2,50 and 5,00 g/L). The response of the cultivars used in the research on minerals showed differences. Although the effect of increasing NaCl doses on mineral content varied, mineral content, in general, was found to be high at 2,5 g/L NaCl dose. The effect of applied EMS doses on N, P and Zn contents was insignificant, and 1,0% EMS applications had a positive effect on the amount of other mineral substances, causing an increase. The study concluded that EMS applications could have a positive effect on the development of sunflower under saline conditions.