ROOT, STEM, AND LEAF ION ACCUMULATION IN DROUGHT- STRESSED GREEN BEAN (PHASEOLUS VULGARIS L.) GENOTYPES TREATED WITH PEG-6000

The objective of this investigation was to determine the relationship between drought stress and the ion accu- mulation as well as distribution mechanisms of bean gen- otypes of the Phaseolus vulgaris L. species, namely, Ge- vas Bodur 64 (GB64), Samsun 100 (S100), Samsun 95 (S95), 4F-89F, Gevas Sirik 57 (GS57), Gevas Sirik 26 (GS26), Samsun 96 (S96), Sirik Barbunya (SB), Kirk- gunluk (KG), and Oturak Barbunya (OB), collected from various regions of Anatolia, Turkey. The seedlings of 10 different bean genotypes were cultivated in containers containing Hoagland's nutrient solution in a cultivation chamber, the climate conditions of which were kept under control. In order to generate drought stress, 10% (w/v) polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG-6000), corresponding to an osmotic potential of -0.40 MPa, was added to the nutrient solution. After the application, the accumulation of potassium (K), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) ions in the roots, stems, and leaves of the plants was determined. There were differences among the genotypes in terms of ion uptake, ion accumulation, and ion distribution. It was concluded that plants pro- tected themselves from negative effects of drought stress via balanced ion distribution among their organs.