Foliar application of melatonin alleviates the effects of drought stress in rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) plays an essential role in abiotic stress plants, but its mechanism drought tolerance is unclear. To better understand the protective roles of melatonin against stress, we investigated effect foliar application with exogenous on plant growth, physiological responses, and antioxidant enzyme activities rice seedlings under stress. Rice were grown for 21 days, sprayed 0, 50, 100, 200, 300 µM melatonin. The control was watered daily, while others subjected to by withholding water seven days. results showed that significantly reduced relative content, chlorophyll content. Electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA) content hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) also negatively affected Application alleviated effects increasing improving decreasing electrolyte MDA, H2O2. Foliar increased activities, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol (GPX). In addition, enhanced proline total soluble sugar accumulation during It is, therefore, suggested 100 most effective reducing adverse plants.