EFFECT OF FOLIAR-APPLIED AMINOPOLYSACCHARIDE CHITOSAN ON SEEDLING GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS, ANTIOXIDANT ENZYME ACTIVITY, AND CHLOROPHYLL AND CAROTENOID CONTENTS OF SAFFLOWER (CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS L.) CULTIVARS UNDER SALINE CONDITIONS

Salinity is a major concern in agricultural areas all over the world. Aminopolysaccharide chitosan is a biopolymer that is known to increase plant tolerance against salinity by increasing various antioxidant enzyme activities. Less studies are available on the effect foliar application of chitosan on safflower plants (Carthamus tinctorius L.) in saline conditions in the greenhouse. In this study, the effects of foliar aplication of 0-0.6% chitosan (4 concentrations) on the resistance to 0-150 m1VI salt (4 concentrations) in 3 safflower cultivars (Balc1, Linas and Remzibey) were investigated under greenhouse conditions. Chitosan applications played a role in reducing the negative effects of salt stress on the examined morphological features. In addition, the positive effect of chitosan application on enzyme activities in chlorophyll, carotenoid, SOD and CAT was determined by increasing salt doses. However, any positive effect of chitosan on the reduction of MDA content could not be determined. It was concluded that chitosan can be evaluated as an effective natural biopolymer material that can be used to increase resistance and tolerance of plants against salt stress.