Mitigating salt stress in cabbage: synergistic effects of nitric oxide donor GSNO and melatonin
摘要
Salt exposure adversely affects crop productivity by reducing growth and development, primarily due to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). To alleviate excessive ROS, ROS scavengers such as nitric oxide (NO) and melatonin play critical roles in promoting plant growth and resilience. Despite the importance of nitric oxide and melatonin, the interaction between NO and melatonin in providing tolerance to salt stress has not been investigated, especially in cabbage plants. In this experiment, we investigated the physiological responses of S-nitroso glutathione (GSNO) and melatonin in cabbage plants under salt stress conditions. Cabbage plants treated with both GSNO and melatonin demonstrated better stress adaptation than those in other treatments. Under salt stress conditions, cabbage plants treated with both GSNO and melatonin improved physiological parameters, including relative water content, electrolyte leakage, chlorophyll content, and stomatal aperture while reducing H2O2 and malondialdehyde levels. Moreover, antioxidant defense genes, such as BolSOD and BolGPX, along with salt stress-responsive genes including BolNHX1, BolNR, and BolOST1, were upregulated following GSNO and melatonin treatment. This synergistic interaction may enhance salt stress tolerance by coordinating ion homeostasis, reducing oxidative damage, and optimizing stomatal function in cabbage plants. Our findings demonstrate that the combined application of GSNO and melatonin could be a viable approach to enhancing salt stress tolerance in cabbage plants.