The Influence of Salinity on Growth Parameters and Total Phenol-Antioxidant Content of Some Artichoke Cultivars [Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus (L.) Fiori]

Abstract

Since ancient times, the globe artichoke [Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus (L.) Fiori] has been greatly valued due to its culinary and medicinal qualities. Concerns have been raised both the environment and the economy as a result of the worsening effects of global climate change in recent years. Considered on a global scale, abiotic stresses, especially salinity, affect the growth and development of plants, limit crop production and meeting food demand, and pose a potential threat to food security. In the current study, artichoke seeds were first retained in three different sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations (50, 100, and 250 mg L^-1) for eight hours, and then the thereby formed seedlings were exposed to the same NaCl concentrations at intervals of 15 days. Afterwards, under salinity stress, three cultivars of globe artichoke (Sakız, Bayrampaşa, and Olympus F₁) were examined for several seed germination and vegetative growth indices, such as number of leaves, root length, stem height, plant height, chlorophyll, proline, leaf-related water contents, and total phenol-antioxidant contents. When the results obtained from the study were evaluated, it was determined that different concentrations of NaCl applied to artichoke seeds and seedlings had different effects among cultivars.