Abstract
Signaling molecules such as melatonin can modulate drought, which continues to be a serious threat to plant productivity across the world. Capsicum is an economically important crop valued for its piquancy and nutritional content, but is quite sensitive to drought. This study investigated the effect of two levels of foliar application of melatonin (0 and 50 μM) on growth parameters, pigment accumulation, and osmolyte and inorganic ion content of three Capsicum species (C. frutesence, C. chinense, and C. annum) under well-watered as well as mild and severe drought conditions. Drought exerted negative effects on growth and development of the Capsicum spp., as indicated by changes in height, decreased leaf area, biomass, and photosynthetic pigment concentrations. Drought strongly decreased chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoid content, but increased root biomass, total soluble sugar, and proline concentrations of Capsicum compared to well-watered plants. In C. frutesence, severe drought significantly enhanced Na+ and SO42−, while mild drought increased Ca2+ and SO42−. Mild and severe drought increased Na+, decreased K+ and Ca2+, and had no significant effects on Cl− and SO42− in C. chinense and C. annum. Foliar application of melatonin had positive but varying effects on Capsicum, as indicated by differences in growth, photosynthetic pigments, and ion accumulation. These findings pointed to beneficial effects of foliar application of melatonin in facilitating and improving drought tolerance of Capsicum via increased osmolyte accumulation, pigments, and total concentration of inorganic ions under drought conditions.
Zusammenfassung
Signalmoleküle wie Melatonin können die Trockenheit regulieren, die nach wie vor eine ernste Bedrohung für die Pflanzenproduktivität in der ganzen Welt darstellt. Capsicum ist eine wirtschaftlich wichtige Kulturpflanze, die wegen ihrer Schärfe und ihres Nährstoffgehalts geschätzt wird, aber recht empfindlich auf Trockenheit reagiert. In dieser Studie wurde die Wirkung von Melatonin in 2 Dosierungen (0 und 50 μM) auf die Wachstumsparameter, die Pigmentakkumulation sowie den Gehalt an Osmolyten und anorganischen Ionen von 3 Capsicum-Arten (C. frutesence, C. chinense und C. annum) unter gut bewässerten, milden und schweren Trockenheitsbedingungen untersucht. Trockenheit wirkte sich negativ auf das Wachstum und die Entwicklung von Capsicum sp. aus, was sich in Veränderungen der Höhe, einer verringerten Blattfläche, Biomasse und Konzentration photosynthetischer Pigmente zeigte. Die Trockenheit führte zu einem starken Rückgang des Gehalts an Chlorophyll a, b und Carotinoiden, aber zu einem Anstieg der Wurzelbiomasse, des gesamten löslichen Zuckers und der Prolinkonzentration von Capsicum im Vergleich zu gut gewässerten Pflanzen. Bei C. frutesence führte schwere Trockenheit zu einer signifikanten Erhöhung von Na+ und SO42−, während leichte Trockenheit Ca2+ und SO42− erhöhte. Milde und schwere Trockenheit erhöhten Na+, verringerten K+ und Ca2+ und hatten keine signifikanten Auswirkungen auf Cl- und SO42− in C. chinense und C. annum. Die Blattapplikation von Melatonin hatte positive, aber unterschiedliche Auswirkungen auf Capsicum, wie aus den Unterschieden im Wachstum, den photosynthetischen Pigmenten und der Ionenakkumulation hervorgeht. Diese Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass die Blattanwendung von Melatonin die Trockentoleranz von Capsicum durch eine erhöhte Osmolytakkumulation sowie eine höhere Pigmentkonzentration und Gesamtkonzentration anorganischer Ionen unter Trockenheitsbedingungen erleichtert und verbessert.
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G.O. Okunlola, O.A. Olatunji, E. Niewiadomska, M.A. Jimoh, A.B. Rufai, and C.O. Ogunkunle declare that they have no competing interests.
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Okunlola, G.O., Olatunji, O.A., Niewiadomska, E. et al. Foliar Application of Melatonin Alleviates the Deleterious Effects of Drought on the Three Most Cultivated Capsicum Species in Africa. Gesunde Pflanzen 75, 139–149 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10343-022-00685-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10343-022-00685-4