Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Faculty Publications Article Faculty Publications -Articles Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ransi, Sharon; Thomas, Tinu Title A name given to the resource Melatonin seed priming enhances early seedling tolerance to individual and combined abiotic stresses in rice (Oryza sativa L.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 01-01-2026 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Cereal Research Communications; Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s42976-026-00803-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://doi.org/10.1007/s42976-026-00803-2</a> <br /><br /><a href="https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105036171898?origin=resultslist" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105036171898?origin=resultslist</a> Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Ransi S., Department of Life Sciences, Christ University, Bangalore, India; Thomas T., Department of Life Sciences, Christ University, Bangalore, India, Centre for Landscapes, Wildlife and Marine Ecology (CLIME), Department of Life Sciences, Christ University, Bangalore, India Description An account of the resource Combined drought and salinity pose a critical constraint to rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedling establishment, often exerting a greater impact than individual stresses such as drought, salinity, or heavy metals. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of melatonin seed priming (50M) in mitigating the combined effects of drought-salinity stress along with individual drought, salinity, and chromium (Cr) stress during the seedling stage in the indica variety IR64, and validated the findings across three major Indian cultivars (MTU1001, KMP-225 and Jyothi). Melatonin priming significantly mitigated stress-induced root and shoot inhibition. Under combined drought and salinity stress, melatonin-primed shoots (4.17cm) were significantly higher and maintained lower oxidative stress markers, with reduced malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide, compared to hydro-primed controls, indicating improved membrane stability and antioxidant protection. Under individual drought, salinity, and chromium stress, melatonin-primed seedlings showed significantly enhanced root and shoot lengths compared to hydro-primed controls, supporting better early growth and resource allocation. Spectral profiling revealed higher chlorophyll content and normalized difference vegetation index values in melatonin-primed seedlings under salinity and chromium stress, indicating improved pigment stability and seedling vigor. Across all genotypes, melatonin conferred consistent benefits, indicating its potential as a low-cost and potentially scalable strategy. These findings highlight melatonin seed priming as a promising approach for improving rice resilience, with significant potential for enhancing crop establishment in stress-prone, resource-limited agroecosystems. Akadiai KiadZrt. 2026. Subject The topic of the resource Combined stress; Drought; Melatonin; Priming; Rice Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Springer Nature Relation A related resource ISSN: 1333720; CODEN: CRCMC Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Article Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource online