Genotype-dependent resilience mediated by melatonin in sweet corn
Abstract Background Water deficits, exacerbated by climate change and unpredictable weather, have become a significant global challenge to agricultural productivity. In this context, exogenous melatonin treatment is well documented as a stress alleviator; however, its effects on various biological p...
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2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-024-05972-y |
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| author | Tahoora Batool Zargar Mawia Sobh Oqba Basal Szilvia Veres |
| author_facet | Tahoora Batool Zargar Mawia Sobh Oqba Basal Szilvia Veres |
| author_sort | Tahoora Batool Zargar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Water deficits, exacerbated by climate change and unpredictable weather, have become a significant global challenge to agricultural productivity. In this context, exogenous melatonin treatment is well documented as a stress alleviator; however, its effects on various biological processes, particularly in less-explored genotypes, remain understudied. This study aimed to enhance water deficit resilience in sweet corn by applying foliar melatonin to four genotypes-Messenger, Dessert, Royalty, and Tyson under two levels of water deprivation induced by polyethylene glycol at 8% and 12% concentrations in a hydroponic, controlled environment. Results The melatonin treatments were assessed for their impact on various morphological, physiological, and biochemical parameters under both normal and water-deficit conditions. Under severe water deprivation (12% PEG), melatonin increased root length by 75%, peroxidase activity by 31% while reducing malondialdehyde content by 34% in genotype Dessert indicating enhanced antioxidant defense and reduced oxidative damage. Likewise in genotype Royalty, stomatal conductance increased by 68%, with increasing specific area by 125% on melatonin treatment under severe water deprivation. The treatment also improved chlorophyll-a content by 93% in Royalty and 37% in Tyson, while decrease in malondialdehyde levels by 42% in Tyson, indicating reduced oxidative damage under severe water deprivation. In addition, melatonin increased photosystem II efficiency (Fv/Fm) in all genotypes with 27% increase in Royalty and improved quantum yield across all genotypes, regardless of the water deficit level. Conclusion Overall, melatonin treatment showed genotype-specific and dose-dependent effects in mitigating water deficit effects, offering a promising strategy to improve crop resilience and productivity in limited water environments. These results suggest the practical application for integrating melatonin treatments into sustainable agricultural practices, such as improving water deficit tolerance in sweet corn and potentially other crops, to maintain productivity under adverse climatic conditions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-965cbc6494d646d68fb199721344be17 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2229 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Plant Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-965cbc6494d646d68fb199721344be172025-01-12T12:14:14ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-01-0125111410.1186/s12870-024-05972-yGenotype-dependent resilience mediated by melatonin in sweet cornTahoora Batool Zargar0Mawia Sobh1Oqba Basal2Szilvia Veres3Department of Applied Plant Biology, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of DebrecenDepartment of Applied Plant Biology, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of DebrecenDepartment of Applied Plant Biology, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of DebrecenDepartment of Applied Plant Biology, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of DebrecenAbstract Background Water deficits, exacerbated by climate change and unpredictable weather, have become a significant global challenge to agricultural productivity. In this context, exogenous melatonin treatment is well documented as a stress alleviator; however, its effects on various biological processes, particularly in less-explored genotypes, remain understudied. This study aimed to enhance water deficit resilience in sweet corn by applying foliar melatonin to four genotypes-Messenger, Dessert, Royalty, and Tyson under two levels of water deprivation induced by polyethylene glycol at 8% and 12% concentrations in a hydroponic, controlled environment. Results The melatonin treatments were assessed for their impact on various morphological, physiological, and biochemical parameters under both normal and water-deficit conditions. Under severe water deprivation (12% PEG), melatonin increased root length by 75%, peroxidase activity by 31% while reducing malondialdehyde content by 34% in genotype Dessert indicating enhanced antioxidant defense and reduced oxidative damage. Likewise in genotype Royalty, stomatal conductance increased by 68%, with increasing specific area by 125% on melatonin treatment under severe water deprivation. The treatment also improved chlorophyll-a content by 93% in Royalty and 37% in Tyson, while decrease in malondialdehyde levels by 42% in Tyson, indicating reduced oxidative damage under severe water deprivation. In addition, melatonin increased photosystem II efficiency (Fv/Fm) in all genotypes with 27% increase in Royalty and improved quantum yield across all genotypes, regardless of the water deficit level. Conclusion Overall, melatonin treatment showed genotype-specific and dose-dependent effects in mitigating water deficit effects, offering a promising strategy to improve crop resilience and productivity in limited water environments. These results suggest the practical application for integrating melatonin treatments into sustainable agricultural practices, such as improving water deficit tolerance in sweet corn and potentially other crops, to maintain productivity under adverse climatic conditions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-024-05972-yPhytohormoneAbiotic stressWater deprivationGenotypes |
| spellingShingle | Tahoora Batool Zargar Mawia Sobh Oqba Basal Szilvia Veres Genotype-dependent resilience mediated by melatonin in sweet corn BMC Plant Biology Phytohormone Abiotic stress Water deprivation Genotypes |
| title | Genotype-dependent resilience mediated by melatonin in sweet corn |
| title_full | Genotype-dependent resilience mediated by melatonin in sweet corn |
| title_fullStr | Genotype-dependent resilience mediated by melatonin in sweet corn |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genotype-dependent resilience mediated by melatonin in sweet corn |
| title_short | Genotype-dependent resilience mediated by melatonin in sweet corn |
| title_sort | genotype dependent resilience mediated by melatonin in sweet corn |
| topic | Phytohormone Abiotic stress Water deprivation Genotypes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-024-05972-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tahoorabatoolzargar genotypedependentresiliencemediatedbymelatonininsweetcorn AT mawiasobh genotypedependentresiliencemediatedbymelatonininsweetcorn AT oqbabasal genotypedependentresiliencemediatedbymelatonininsweetcorn AT szilviaveres genotypedependentresiliencemediatedbymelatonininsweetcorn |