Determination of Some Physiological Parameters of Acanthiophilus Helianthi Rossi (Diptera: Tephritidae) Before and After Damage on Different Safflower (Carthamus Tinctorius L.) Varieties

One of the principal pests of safflower plants is Acanthiophilus helianthi, also known as the safflower fly. The safflower plant (Carthamus tinctorius), one of its hosts, is a significant energy plant whose cultivation has expanded recently in our nation. It is drought-resistant and highly adaptable. This study aims to investigate the effect of A. helianthi on some physiological (sugar, mineral substance, chlorophyll, total phenol, and antioxidant content) parameters in five different safflower cultivars, whose production has increased in the province of Van in recent years. The findings showed that under stress conditions brought on by the development of the pest, A. helianthi responded physiologically to the five different forms of safflower in a significant way. The mineral values of iron and potassium increased under stress conditions brought on by A. helianthi damage, but the mineral values of zinc, manganese, copper, phosphorus, and calcium declined. According to the sugar content results, only the fructose amounts of Ayaz and Göktürk varieties differed before and after the damage. Before the damage, the antioxidant content of the cultivars Asol, Ayaz, Balcı, and Dinçer was found to be low, whereas the antioxidant content of the Göktürk cultivar was high, and the antioxidant content of the Göktürk cultivar significantly decreased after the damage. It was found that under stress, the chlorophyll content of the cultivars of safflower used reduced. As a result, it was concluded that the safflower fly has different effects on safflower varieties before and after damage and that it can provide practical ideas to the producers who will produce safflower as a solution to the drought and energy problem.

One of the principal pests of safflower plants is Acanthiophilus helianthi, also known as the safflower fly. The safflower plant (Carthamus tinctorius), one of its hosts, is a significant energy plant whose cultivation has expanded recently in our nation. It is drought-resistant and highly adaptable. This study aims to investigate the effect of A. helianthi on some physiological (sugar, mineral substance, chlorophyll, total phenol, and antioxidant content) parameters in five different safflower cultivars, whose production has increased in the province of Van in recent years. The findings showed that under stress conditions brought on by the development of the pest, A. helianthi responded physiologically to the five different forms of safflower in a significant way. The mineral values of iron and potassium increased under stress conditions brought on by A. helianthi damage, but the mineral values of zinc, manganese, copper, phosphorus, and calcium declined. According to the sugar content results, only the fructose amounts of Ayaz and Göktürk varieties differed before and after the damage. Before the damage, the antioxidant content of the cultivars Asol, Ayaz, Balcı, and Dinçer was found to be low, whereas the antioxidant content of the Göktürk cultivar was high, and the antioxidant content of the Göktürk cultivar significantly decreased after the damage. It was found that under stress, the chlorophyll content of the cultivars of safflower used reduced. As a result, it was concluded that the safflower fly has different effects on safflower varieties before and after damage and that it can provide practical ideas to the producers who will produce safflower as a solution to the drought and energy problem.