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Updated: Dec 29, 2025

Imaging and Analysis for Quantifying Maize (Zea mays) Abiotic Stress Phenotypes
Published on: March 28, 2025
Nano-ZnO-Induced Drought Tolerance Is Associated with Melatonin Synthesis and Metabolism in Maize
Luying Sun1,2, Fengbin Song1,2, Junhong Guo1
1Key Laboratory of Mollisols Agroecology, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China.
Abstract:
The applications of ZnO nanoparticles in agriculture have largely contributed to crop growth regulation, quality enhancement, and induction of stress tolerance, while the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Herein, the involvement of melatonin synthesis and metabolism in the process of nano-ZnO induced drought tolerance was investigated in maize. Drought stress resulted in the changes of subcellular ultrastructure, the accumulation of malondialdehyde and osmolytes in leaf. The nano-ZnO (100 mg L-1) application promoted the melatonin synthesis and activated the antioxidant enzyme system, which alleviated drought-induced damage to mitochondria and chloroplast. These changes were associated with upregulation of the relative transcript abundance of Fe/Mn SOD, Cu/Zn SOD, APX, CAT, TDC, SNAT, COMT, and ASMT induced by nano-ZnO application. It was suggested that modifications in endogenous melatonin synthesis were involved in the nano-ZnO induced drought tolerance in maize.
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