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Exogenous melatonin alleviates waterlogging stress and maintains the quality by regulating photosynthesis and antioxidant and active substances biosynthesis in Atractylodes lancea (Tunb.) DC

Rong Tian, A qin Zhang, Wei Gu , Min Tang, Sheng Wang, Zeng cai Yang, Yi fu Gan

Abstract

Atractylodes lancea is sensitive to waterlogging, which can decrease yield and quality. Melatonin is a pleiotropic molecule that influences diverse processes to enhance plant growth. Here, we studied the efficiency of melatonin application in alleviating waterlogging-induced decreases in A. lancea quality by comparing control (CK), waterlogging (WL) and melatonin (MT) groups at 48 and 96 h. Rhizomes of A. lancea rotted, and the content of essential oil was decreased by 60% in the WL96 group compared with the CK group, whereas the content of essential oil in the MT96 group was just decreased by 22.8%. Under waterlogging, photosynthesis was markedly inhibited, as evidenced by decreased chlorophyll content, photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), and net photosynthetic rate (Pn). Melatonin pretreatment alleviated the decreased chlorophyll content, Fv/Fm, and Pn, and relieved chloroplast damage. Waterlogging caused a significant increase in O2•−, H2O2 and malondialdehyde accumulation, but these increases were relieved in the melatonin pretreatment group. RNA sequencing data showed that melatonin pretreatment alleviated physiological and biochemical damage caused by waterlogging through differential expression of genes involved in photosystems, chlorophyll biosynthesis, antioxidant activity and active substance biosynthesis. In summary, melatonin pretreatment increased the tolerance of A. lancea to waterlogging stress, and improved both yield and quality.

FP24171  Accepted 22 April 2025

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