LAUSR

Low temperatures slow down plant growth and development and generate physiological damages on plants. Metabolism of largely produced and consumed common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants decelerates at temperatures below 15 °C. This study was carried out at Van Yuzuncu Yil University in Van province of Turkey with limited vegetation period due to its cold climate in winter. In this study, the bean plants were subjected to low temperature stress and catalase (CAT), super oxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) enzyme activities, malondialdehyde (MDA), chlorophylla, chlorophyll-b and total chlorophyll, K, Ca, and Mg ion contents of low temperature stress-tolerant Yakutiye and Ç30 and low temperature stress-sensitive Zulbiye and Ç13 bean genotypes were measured on 25, 30, 35 and 40 days of low temperature stress. Four bean seeds were sown in 2-liter pots filled with 2:1 peat:perlite mixture as to have 2 plants in each pot. The pots were irrigated with Hoagland nutrient solution. Low temperature stress plants were sown on 15 of March with low outdoor temperatures. In control group, been seeds were sown on 25 of April and plant samples were taken in again 5-day intervals in 4 periods (25, 30, 35 and 40 days of growth). Significant differences were observed in enzyme activities, chlorophyll contents and ion contents of low temperature-tolerant and sensitive bean genotypes in 4 measurement periods.