Melatonin priming confers chromium tolerance in spinach (Spinacia oleracea) seedlings and field-grown plants

Title

Melatonin priming confers chromium tolerance in spinach (Spinacia oleracea) seedlings and field-grown plants

Creator

Sowhnthariya, M.; Thomas, Tinu

Description

Heavy metal contamination of soils poses a significant risk to food safety by accumulating toxic metals in edible crops, such as leafy vegetables. This study tested whether melatonin seed priming reduces chromium accumulation while maintaining plant performance in Spinacia oleracea cultivar Arka Anupama under controlled and polyhouse conditions. Melatonin priming improved seedling growth under chromium stress, with 50-micromolar melatonin treated plants showing better performance. Under polyhouse conditions, 50 micromolar melatonin increased leaf number to 5.25 0.55 compared with 3.75 0.29 in chromium-stressed plants (40% increase), and improved leaf area to 3.70 0.35 cm2 in 100 micromolar melatonin-treated plants compared with 2.27 0.03 cm2 in chromium-stressed plants (63% increase). The chlorophyll normalized difference vegetation index increased from 0.15 0.04 in chromium-stressed plants to 0.26 0.01 in 50 micromolar melatonin-primed plants, representing approximately 78% improvement (significant p <.05). Atomic absorption spectroscopy analysis showed a 42.9% reduction in leaf chromium content following 50-micromolar treatment. Spectral analysis revealed stress-associated variations, including a 512515 cm?1 band under chromium stress. These findings indicate that melatonin priming improves plant growth and reduces chromium accumulation in spinach, with 50 micromolar showing the most consistent response. 2026 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Source

International Journal of Vegetable Science;

Date

01-01-2026

Publisher

Taylor and Francis Ltd.

Subject

Crop resilience; heavy metal toxicity; leafy vegetable; stress tolerance

Coverage

Sowhnthariya M., 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

Rights

Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library

Relation

ISSN: 19315260;

Format

online

Language

English

Type

Article

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.1080/19315260.2026.2673029

https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105039016727?origin=resultslist