Melatonin enhanced low-temperature combined with low-light tolerance of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seedlings by regulating root growth, antioxidant defense system, and osmotic adjustment.

ABSTRACT: Melatonin (MT) is an important biologically active hormone that plays a vital role in plant growth and development. In particular, it has been investigated for its roles in abiotic stress management. In this study, pepper seedlings were subjected to low-temperature combined with low-light stress (LL) (15/5°C, 100 μmol m^-2s^-1) prior to a foliar spray of 200mM MT for 168h to investigate the protective role of MT in pepper seedlings. Our results demonstrated that LL stress negatively affected root growth, and accelerated the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including H₂O₂ and O2- , changed the osmolytes contents, and antioxidative system. However, these were reversed by exogenous MT application. MT effectively promoted the root growth

SUBMITTER: Li J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9554354 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature