Effect of different salinity on seed germination, growth parameters and biochemical contents of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) seeds cultivars.

Soil and water salinity is an important limiting factor affecting yield and production levels in arid and semi-arid areas. Salt tolerance during germination is an important parameter that also affects the other plant development stages. In this respect, this study was designed to determine the responses of pumpkin seed varieties (Develi, Ürgüp, Hybrid) to different NaCl salinities. The study was carried out in 2022 in the laboratory of Biosystems Engineering Department of Erciyes University in randomized plots design with 3 replications. Experiments were conducted with 5 different water salinity. Germination percentage (GP), germination index (GI), mean germination time (MGT), seedling vigor index (SVI), ion leakage (Il), radicula length (RL) and plumule length (PL), root and shoot fresh and dry weights and some mineral composition (Na, K, Ca) were examined. Proline, antioxidant capacity, total phenolic and DPPH content were significantly affected by salinity. In scatter plot correlation analysis SVI a positive correlation was observed between GP (r2 = 0.774), GI (r2 = 0.745), RL (r2 = 0.929), FRW (r2 = 0.837), FSW (r2 = 0.836), DRW (r2 = 0.894), AC (r2 = 0.747), TP (r2 = 0.640) and DPPH (r2 = 0.635). It was determined that there were negative correlations between SVI and MGT (r2 = - 0.902), II (r2 = - 0.588), DSW (r2 = - 0.682) and PR (r2 = - 0.344). Present findings revealed that investigated parameters were significantly affected by increasing salinity levels. While Hybrid cultivar was the most affected by salinity, Develi cultivar was found to be resistant to saline conditions.

Supplementary irrigations at different physiological growth stages of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) change grain nutritional composition.

Chickpea is one the most important legumes consumed all around the world because of high protein content. The current study was conducted to investigate the effects of irrigation treatments at different physiological growth stages (before flowering, beginning of flowering, pod-set and pod-fill periods) on nutritional attributes of chickpea. The findings showed that one or two irrigations at different physiological growth stages instead of full irrigation treatment might be sufficient to improve the nutritional attributes of chickpea. Flowering and pod-fill periods were identified as the critical periods for irrigations and affected the nutritional component levels. The greatest protein level (29.52%) was obtained from the samples irrigated before flowering while the greatest total starch (36.30%) was obtained from the samples irrigated at the beginning of flowering. It was concluded based on present findings that physiological growth stages should be taken into consideration in irrigation practices of chickpea farming.