Effects of exogenous spraying of melatonin on the growth of Platycrater arguta under drought stress

• DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1516302
• Publication Date: 2025-01-17T06:52:15Z
• Authors: Xule Zhang; Xiaohua Ma; Yaping Hu; Qingdi Hu; Junxiu Wen; Yizeng Chen; Renjuan Qian; Jian Zheng
• Keywords: Drought stress; Drought Resistance; Water Stress

Platycrater arguta is a rare and endangered deciduous shrub originating from the Tertiary Period. Understanding its drought tolerance crucial for conservation efforts enhancing resilience to environmental stress. This study aimed assess effects of varying levels stress on phenotype physiological-biochemical characteristics P. arguta. The subjected different using 10%, 20%, 30% polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG-6000) over 10-day period. Additionally, exogenous melatonin application at various concentrations (including 100 µM) were examined determine potential in alleviating drought-induced damage. Key parameters measured included leaf relative water content, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), antioxidant enzyme activity, soluble sugar content. Drought significantly inhibited growth As PEG-6000 concentration increased, content decreased, while wilting severity, membrane damage, increased. A caused irreversible leading plant death. Exogenous µM alleviated this damage by increasing efficiency, boosting accumulating osmotic regulators, reducing desiccation. demonstrated that sensitive severe conditions, with causing However, improved plant's upregulating expression ABI1 downregulating genes such as AUX1A-2, IAA2-2, HP2-1. finding highlights protective agent against stress, providing valuable insights enhancement arguta's challenges.