In vitro assessment of drought tolerance in summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) cultivars

In this study, the growth performance of three different summer squash cultivars was evaluated under in vitro conditions using Murashige and Skoog (MS) nutrient media supplemented with varying concentrations of polyethylene glycol (PEG) at 0%, 2%, 4%, and 6%. In the study, parameters including germination rate (%), stem fresh and dry weight (g), root fresh and dry weight (g), shoot and root length (mm) were investigated. In addition, antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content in plant shoots were determined using the DPPH method. According to the findings, the highest stem fresh weight was recorded as 0.72 g in cultivar Pelin grown in control medium (without PEG). In terms of root fresh weight, the highest mean value among the media was also observed in control with 0.43 g. The longest shoot length as 48.91 mm was also determined in Pelin. Increasing concentrations of PEG were found to have a negative impact on all growth parameters.