Exogenous melatonin enhances drought tolerance and germination in common buckwheat seeds through the coordinated effects of antioxidant and osmotic regulation
Abstract Background Drought stress is a major constraint on seed germination and crop productivity, particularly for drought-sensitive crops like common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum). Exogenous melatonin has emerged as a promising strategy to mitigate drought stress by enhancing plant physiologic...
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2025-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06632-5 |
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| author | Zemiao Tian Jiadong He Zhanyu Wang Zhuo Zhang Muriel Quinet Yu Meng |
| author_facet | Zemiao Tian Jiadong He Zhanyu Wang Zhuo Zhang Muriel Quinet Yu Meng |
| author_sort | Zemiao Tian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Drought stress is a major constraint on seed germination and crop productivity, particularly for drought-sensitive crops like common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum). Exogenous melatonin has emerged as a promising strategy to mitigate drought stress by enhancing plant physiological and biochemical responses. However, its specific roles in regulating antioxidant defenses, osmotic adjustment, and plant compounds biosynthesis during buckwheat seed germination under drought stress remain poorly understood. Results This study investigated the effects of 200 µM exogenous melatonin on common buckwheat germination under polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000)-induced drought stress. Melatonin significantly improved germination rates and radicle growth, reduced membrane damage, and enhanced osmotic regulation by increasing proline, soluble sugars, and proteins. Antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase) and associated gene expression (FeCAT, FePOD, FeSOD) were markedly upregulated. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations revealed a stable interaction between rutin, a secondary metabolite, and catalase, suggesting enhanced enzyme stabilization. Additionally, melatonin increased rutin and methyl jasmonate synthesis, which contributed to antioxidant defenses and reduced oxidative damage. The coordinated effects of melatonin improved drought tolerance in buckwheat seeds by optimizing osmotic balance, strengthening antioxidant capacity, and stabilizing cellular structures. Conclusions Exogenous melatonin enhances drought tolerance in common buckwheat seeds through the coordinated regulation of antioxidant defenses, osmotic adjustment, and plant compounds production, including methyl jasmonate and rutin, during germination. These findings offer valuable insights for developing practical strategies to improve drought resilience and crop establishment in sensitive agricultural species under water-limited conditions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eaf564ec715b4912ad6bb0616dba89eb |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2229 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Plant Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-eaf564ec715b4912ad6bb0616dba89eb2025-08-20T03:04:37ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-05-0125111810.1186/s12870-025-06632-5Exogenous melatonin enhances drought tolerance and germination in common buckwheat seeds through the coordinated effects of antioxidant and osmotic regulationZemiao Tian0Jiadong He1Zhanyu Wang2Zhuo Zhang3Muriel Quinet4Yu Meng5Country College of Landscape Architecture and Tourism, Hebei Agricultural UniversityLaboratory of Mycology, Earth and Life Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain-UCLouvainCountry College of Landscape Architecture and Tourism, Hebei Agricultural UniversityLouvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université Catholique de Louvain-UCLouvainGroupe de Recherche en Physiologie Végétale, Earth and Life Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain-UCLouvainCountry College of Landscape Architecture and Tourism, Hebei Agricultural UniversityAbstract Background Drought stress is a major constraint on seed germination and crop productivity, particularly for drought-sensitive crops like common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum). Exogenous melatonin has emerged as a promising strategy to mitigate drought stress by enhancing plant physiological and biochemical responses. However, its specific roles in regulating antioxidant defenses, osmotic adjustment, and plant compounds biosynthesis during buckwheat seed germination under drought stress remain poorly understood. Results This study investigated the effects of 200 µM exogenous melatonin on common buckwheat germination under polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000)-induced drought stress. Melatonin significantly improved germination rates and radicle growth, reduced membrane damage, and enhanced osmotic regulation by increasing proline, soluble sugars, and proteins. Antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase) and associated gene expression (FeCAT, FePOD, FeSOD) were markedly upregulated. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations revealed a stable interaction between rutin, a secondary metabolite, and catalase, suggesting enhanced enzyme stabilization. Additionally, melatonin increased rutin and methyl jasmonate synthesis, which contributed to antioxidant defenses and reduced oxidative damage. The coordinated effects of melatonin improved drought tolerance in buckwheat seeds by optimizing osmotic balance, strengthening antioxidant capacity, and stabilizing cellular structures. Conclusions Exogenous melatonin enhances drought tolerance in common buckwheat seeds through the coordinated regulation of antioxidant defenses, osmotic adjustment, and plant compounds production, including methyl jasmonate and rutin, during germination. These findings offer valuable insights for developing practical strategies to improve drought resilience and crop establishment in sensitive agricultural species under water-limited conditions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06632-5Antioxidant enzymesBuckwheat germinationDrought stressMelatoninOsmotic regulationRutin |
| spellingShingle | Zemiao Tian Jiadong He Zhanyu Wang Zhuo Zhang Muriel Quinet Yu Meng Exogenous melatonin enhances drought tolerance and germination in common buckwheat seeds through the coordinated effects of antioxidant and osmotic regulation BMC Plant Biology Antioxidant enzymes Buckwheat germination Drought stress Melatonin Osmotic regulation Rutin |
| title | Exogenous melatonin enhances drought tolerance and germination in common buckwheat seeds through the coordinated effects of antioxidant and osmotic regulation |
| title_full | Exogenous melatonin enhances drought tolerance and germination in common buckwheat seeds through the coordinated effects of antioxidant and osmotic regulation |
| title_fullStr | Exogenous melatonin enhances drought tolerance and germination in common buckwheat seeds through the coordinated effects of antioxidant and osmotic regulation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exogenous melatonin enhances drought tolerance and germination in common buckwheat seeds through the coordinated effects of antioxidant and osmotic regulation |
| title_short | Exogenous melatonin enhances drought tolerance and germination in common buckwheat seeds through the coordinated effects of antioxidant and osmotic regulation |
| title_sort | exogenous melatonin enhances drought tolerance and germination in common buckwheat seeds through the coordinated effects of antioxidant and osmotic regulation |
| topic | Antioxidant enzymes Buckwheat germination Drought stress Melatonin Osmotic regulation Rutin |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06632-5 |
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