Melatonin promotes seed germination under salinity and enhances the biosynthesis of steviol glycosides in Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni leaves.

ABSTRACT: Melatonin (MEL) can act as a plant growth regulator and biostimulator in stressful situations. Using MEL in seed pretreatment also affects the future growth of plants. Therefore, this research investigated the effects of MEL on seed germination and seedling growth under NaCl in in vitro conditions. The additional effects of MEL on the accumulation of steviol glycosides (SGs) and on the expression of appropriate genes were also studied. Five μM of MEL was the best concentration for seed germination, while 20 μM exerted a positive impact on the biomass of stevia plantlets. NaCl significantly decreased seed germination, but MEL alleviated this effect when seeds were germinated in 50 mM of NaCl. Under salinity, the values of almost all morphological traits decreased as MEL concentration increa

SUBMITTER: Simlat M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7100979 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature