Exogenous Melatonin Improves Cold Tolerance of Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) through Modulation of DREB/CBF-COR Pathway and Antioxidant Defense System

The strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) is an important fruit crop cultivated worldwide for its unique taste and nutritional properties. One of the major risks associated with production cold damage. Recently, melatonin has emerged as a multifunctional signaling molecule that influences plant growth development reduces adverse consequences stress. present study was conducted to investigate defensive role potential interrelation abscisic acid (ABA) in plants under results demonstrate application conferred improved tolerance on seedlings by reducing malondialdehyde hydrogen peroxide contents Conversely, pretreatment 100 ?M increased soluble sugar different antioxidant enzyme activities (ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, peroxidase) non-enzymatic glutathione) Furthermore, exogenous treatment stimulated expression DREB/CBF—COR pathways’ downstream genes. Interestingly, ABA did not change pathway. These findings imply DREB/CBF-COR pathway confers through application. Taken together, our reveal (100 ?M) protects from damages induced stress enhanced defense modulating