Abstract
Abstract Background Drought stress severely limits maize production in Northwest China. Although melatonin is known to enhance plant stress tolerance, its specific mechanisms in maize have not been fully elucidated. To address this, we investigated whether melatonin improves drought tolerance using two contrasting maize genotypes: drought–tolerant (SD–609) and drought–sensitive (SD–902). A experiment was conducted under drought stress with and without melatonin application, in which we have analyzed photosynthetic parameters, antioxidant enzyme activities, oxidative stress markers, key components of CO₂ assimilation, and dry matter accumulation. Results Under drought stress, melatonin application significantly enhanced photosynthetic performance by improving dark reactions (upregulation of CO₂ assimilation enzymes and genes). It concurrently activated the antioxidant system (SOD, CAT, POD, and the AsA–GSH cycle), leading to a marked reduction in H₂O₂ and MDA levels. These synergistic improvements resulted in a significant increase in dry matter production. The drought–tolerant genotype (SD = 609) exhibited a more pronounced response to melatonin across these parameters than the sensitive genotype (SD = 902). Conclusions This study demonstrated the co–activation of key photosynthetic and antioxidant pathways. The stronger effect in the drought–tolerant genotype suggests an interaction with inherent genetic capacity. These findings provide a crucial theoretical basis for the application of melatonin as a potential agrochemical to enhance crop resilience in water–limited environments.
Abstract from the paper’s OpenAlex record; open copy licensed cc-by. Read at the source ↗
The text the model read, with the source record’s inline markup (italics, sub- and superscripts) rendered and its character entities decoded; quote offsets refer to the raw text.
Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Melatonin significantly improved photosynthetic performance under drought.
- Treatment
- melatonin applicatione0
- Outcome
- photosynthetic performancee0
- Direction
- enhancede0
- Qualifier
- drought stresse0
Zea maysNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Under drought stress, melatonin application significantly enhanced photosynthetic performance”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Melatonin increased expression of carbon dioxide assimilation enzymes and genes.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“upregulation of CO₂ assimilation enzymes and genes”
e1“melatonin application significantly enhanced photosynthetic performance by improving dark reactions (upregulation of CO₂ assimilation enzymes and genes)”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Melatonin activated SOD, CAT and POD under drought.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“It concurrently activated the antioxidant system (SOD, CAT, POD, and the AsA–GSH cycle)”
e1“melatonin application significantly enhanced photosynthetic performance”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Melatonin activated the AsA–GSH cycle.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“It concurrently activated the antioxidant system (SOD, CAT, POD, and the AsA–GSH cycle)”
e1“melatonin application significantly enhanced photosynthetic performance”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Melatonin reduced hydrogen peroxide and MDA levels.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“leading to a marked reduction in H₂O₂ and MDA levels.”
e1“melatonin application significantly enhanced photosynthetic performance”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Melatonin significantly increased dry matter production.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“These synergistic improvements resulted in a significant increase in dry matter production.”
e1“melatonin application significantly enhanced photosynthetic performance”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
The drought-tolerant genotype responded more strongly to melatonin than the sensitive genotype.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The drought–tolerant genotype (SD = 609) exhibited a more pronounced response to melatonin across these parameters than the sensitive genotype (SD = 902).”
t0“maize”
The same questions in other papers
melatonin · molecular: metabolites · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results
12 papers in the same direction as this paper · 2 in the opposite direction
- no effect
- negative
- positive
11 papers more in this group
See all 15 papers →melatonin · physiology: photosynthesis · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results
22 papers in the same direction as this paper · 1 in the opposite direction
- negative
- positive
- positive
20 papers more in this group
See all 24 papers →melatonin · yield · Zea mays (maize)Results agree
6 papers in the same direction as this paper
- positive
- positive
- positive
3 papers more in this group
See all 7 papers →melatonin · molecular: expression · Zea mays (maize)Results agree
13 papers in the same direction as this paper
- positive
- positive
- positive
10 papers more in this group
See all 14 papers →melatonin · physiology: antioxidant enzymes · Zea mays (maize)Results agree
20 papers in the same direction as this paper
- positive
- positive
- positive
17 papers more in this group
See all 21 papers →melatonin · physiology: oxidative · Zea mays (maize)Results agree
27 papers in the same direction as this paper
- positive
- positive
- positive
24 papers more in this group
See all 28 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.