Melatonin enhances salt tolerance in sorghum by modulating photosynthetic performance, osmoregulation, antioxidant defense, and ion homeostasis

Melatonin is a potent antioxidant that can prevent plant damage caused by adverse stresses. It remains unclear whether exogenous melatonin can mitigate the effects of salt stress on seed germination and seedling growth of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench). The aim of this study was to decipher the protective mechanisms of exogenous melatonin (100 μmol/L) on sorghum seedlings under NaCl-induced salt stress (120 mmol/L). Plant morphological, photosynthetic, and physiological characteristics were analyzed at different timepoints after sowing. Results showed that salt stress inhibited seed germination, seedling growth, and plant biomass accumulation by reducing photosynthetic pigment contents, photosynthetic efficiency, root vigor, and mineral uptake. In contrast, seed priming with melatonin enhanced photosynthetic pigment biosynthesis, photosynthetic efficiency, root vigor, and K+ content under salt stress. Melatonin application additionally enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase) and increased the levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants (reduced glutathione, ascorbic acid) in the leaves. These changes were accompanied by increase in the leaf contents of soluble sugars, soluble proteins, and proline, as well as decrease in hydrogen peroxide accumulation, malondialdehyde content, and electrolyte leakage. Our findings indicate that exogenous melatonin can alleviate salt stress-induced damage in sorghum seedlings through multifaceted mechanisms, such as improving photosynthetic performance and root vigor, facilitating ion homeostasis and osmoregulation, and promoting antioxidant defense and reactive oxygen species scavenging.