SEASONAL CHANGE OF CHLOROPHYLL CONTENT (SPAD VALUE) IN SOME TREE AND SHRUB SPECIES

Abstract

Chlorophyll, which is of vital importance for living things, is the main active ingredient of photosynthesis, and the amount of chlorophyll in the plant can show very sensitive responses to various environmental factors, especially site conditions and plant species. In this study, it was aimed to determine the change of chlorophyll content (SPAD value) at the beginning (20 May) and the end (15 October) of growth period in some native and exotic tree and shrub species in Kanuni campus of Karadeniz Technical University and to reveal the differences between the species. Within the scope of the study, measurements were made on a total of 20 species including five native (Quercus hartwissiana Steven, Fagus orientalis Lipsky, Ulmus minör Mill., Liquidambar orientalis Mill., Quercus pubescens Willd.) and seven exotic (Eucalyptus camadulensis Dehnh., Ginkgo biloba L., Quercus castaneifolia C.A.Mey., Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Sieb., Acer negundo L., Quercus rubra L., Aesculus hippocastanum L.) tree species and seven native (Cercis siliquastrum L., Laurus nobilis L., Osmanthus decorus (Boiss.&Balansa) Kasapligil, Laurocerasus officinalis M.Roem., Ostrya carpinifolia Scop., Corylus avellana L., Arbutus unedo L.) and one exotic (Weigela coraensis Thunb.) shrub species. Chlorophyll content was determined with four replications by portable chlorophyll meter (Minolta SPAD-502, Osaka, Japan) which indirectly measures the amount of chlorophyll in the leaf. The data obtained were subjected to Wilcoxon test, variance analysis (one-way ANOVA) and Duncan’s test by using SPSS 23.0 statistical program. As a result of the study, it was determined that there are statistically significant differences (p