Photosynthetica 2021, 59(2):327-336 | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2021.031

Exogenous melatonin ameliorates salinity-induced oxidative stress and improves photosynthetic capacity in sweet corn seedlings

D.Y. WANG, J. WANG, S.H. SHI, L.X. HUANG, M. ZHU, F.H. LI
College of Agronomy, Specialty Corn Institute, Shenyang Agricultural University, 110866 Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China

Melatonin (MT) is involved in physiological processes in plants under abiotic stress. In this study, we investigated the effects of melatonin on maize photosynthetic and antioxidant capacities under salinity stress. Our findings indicated salinity stress significantly inhibited maize growth. However, exogenous MT promoted maize growth and antioxidant capacity. Superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase increased by 138.8, 38.7, and 32.0%, respectively, while H2O2 and malondialdehyde decreased by 23 and 31%, respectively. Exogenous MT also improved maize photosynthesis under salinity stress. Net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance increased by 134, 67.2, and 46.3%, respectively. Maximum quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, photochemical quenching coefficient, and electron transport rate increased by 5.8, 70.4, 65.3, and 41.0%, respectively. Therefore, our findings suggested exogenous MT significantly ameliorated maize physiological and photosynthetic adaptation under salinity stress, thereby providing helpful guidance for maize cultivation in areas of high salinity.

Additional key words: antioxidant enzymes; gas exchange; melatonin; salt tolerance; sweet corn.

Received: January 21, 2021; Revised: April 23, 2021; Accepted: May 17, 2021; Prepublished online: May 31, 2021; Published: June 29, 2021  Show citation

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WANG, D.Y., WANG, J., SHI, S.H., HUANG, L.X., ZHU, M., & LI, F.H. (2021). Exogenous melatonin ameliorates salinity-induced oxidative stress and improves photosynthetic capacity in sweet corn seedlings. Photosynthetica, 59(2), 327-336. doi: 10.32615/ps.2021.031
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