As a multifunctional signaling molecule, melatonin (ML) is widely considered to induce the defense mechanism and increase the accumulation of secondary metabolites under abiotic stresses. Here, the effects of different concentrations of ML (100 and 200 µM) on the biochemical and molecular responses of Withania coagulans L. in hydroponic conditions under 200 mM NaCl treatment were evaluated. The results showed that NaCl treatment impaired photosynthetic function and reduced plant growth by decreasing photosynthetic pigments and gas exchange parameters. NaCl stress also induced oxidative stress and membrane lipid damage, disrupting Na + /K + homeostasis and increasing hydrogen peroxide levels. NaCl toxicity decreased nitrogen (N) assimilation activity in leaves by reducing the activity of enzymes associated with N metabolism. However, adding ML to NaCl-stressed plants improved gas exchange parameters and increased photosynthesis efficiency, resulting in improved plant growth. By enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes and reducing hydrogen peroxide levels, ML ameliorated NaCl-induced oxidative stress. By improving N metabolism and restoring Na + /K + homeostasis in NaCl-stressed plants, ML improved N uptake and plant adaptation to salinity. ML increased the expression of genes responsible for the biosynthesis of withanolides ( FPPS , SQS , HMGR , DXS , DXR , and CYP51G1 ) and, as a result, increased the accumulation of withanolides A and withaferin A in leaves under NaCl stress. Overall, our results indicate the potential of ML to improve plant adaptation under NaCl stress through fundamental changes in plant metabolism. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1134/S1021443723600125.
<p>In order to develop a protocol for the effective micropropagation of the important medicinal plant Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dunal, the effects of different concentrations and combinations of growth regulators on the nodal explants in two independent experiments were investigated. For shooting, a MS medium fortified with different concentrations and combinations of IBA (0.01, 0.1 and 0.5 mg l-1), BA (0.5, 1 and 2 mg l-1), Kin (0.5 and 1 mg l-1), PG (0.5 mg l-1) and GA (0.5 mg l-1) was used and the highest shooting response, shoot number and shoot length were obtained in the MS + IBA (0.01 mg l-1) + BA (0.5 mg l-1) + PG (0.5 mg l-1) + GA (0.5 mg l-1) treatment. In the second experiment, the effect of MS supplemented with different combinations and concentrations of IBA (0.1, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg l-1), NAA (0.1 and 1 mg l-1) and PG (1 mg l-1) on rooting of the nodal explants was investigated, which showed that the highest rooting response (%) was observed in the MS fortified with NAA (0.1 mg l-1), NAA (1 mg l-1), NAA (0.1 mg l-1) + PG (1 mg l-1), and NAA (1 mg l-1) + PG (1 mg l-1) treatments, as well as the highest number of roots at NAA (0.1 mg l-1) and the highest root length at IBA (1 mg l-1). Our findings highlight a complete micropropagation method for W. coagulans from the nodal explant that can make a significant contribution to the development of W. coagulans material for medical applications.</p>
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