Some biochemical changes in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) plant exposed to pendimethalin stress

Pendimethalin herbicide is widely used for controlling weeds in agricultural applications. However, the side effect of pendimethalin on cultivated plants is unknown. In this study, oxidative stress induced by pendimethalin in safflower plant (Carthamus tinctorius L.) was investigated. In this study, oxidative stress induced by pendimethalin in Din？er and Remzibey cultivars of safflower was investigated. The herbicide was applied after germination at the doses determined (0.004-0.01 M) following toxicity tests to the leaves of plants of suitable size (21 days). In application groups, carotenoids, total chlorophyll, total carbohydrate, total phenolic and malondialdehyde (MDA) content indicating lipid peroxidation were investigated. The content of carotenoid in Din？er (42.7 %) and Remzibey (59 %) cultivars decreased compared to control. Total chlorophyll content was significantly higher in Remzibey cultivar (56.8 %) than Din？er cultivar (41.4 %). In Din？er cultivar (50 %), carbohydrate content was found to be higher than Remzibey cultivar (46.1 %). Total phenolic content decreased with increasing hours in Remzibey (48.3 %) and Din？er (46.7 %) cultivars. MDA content was higher in Remzibey cultivar (72.4 %) than Din？er cultivar (70.1 %). This study has shown that pendimethalin herbicide has a toxic effect on safflower, which is a cultural plant