Comparative Physiological and Transcriptomics Profiling Provides Integrated Insight into Melatonin Mediated Salt and Copper Stress Tolerance in Selenicereus undatus L.

ABSTRACT: Selenicereus undatus L., (pitaya) is an important tropical fruit crop, and faces significant challenges from soil salinity and heavy metal toxicity. This study explores the role of melatonin (M) in enhancing stress tolerance in pitaya against salinity (S) and copper (Cu) toxicity, both individually and in combination (SCu). SCu stress reduced plant biomass by ~54%, while melatonin application mitigated stress effects and increased plant growth by ~73.26% under SCuM compared to SCu treatment. Antioxidant activities were also modulated by stress. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 21 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) common across stress treatments and 13 DEGs specific to combined melatonin with stress treatments involved in stress signaling, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, and p

SUBMITTER: Khan D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11678089 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature