Effects of Melatonin on the Antioxidant Enzyme Activities and Seed Germination of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) under Salt-Stress Conditions

Objective] Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) seed germination, in which melatonin plays an important regulatory role, is seriously affected by soil salinization. Cotton seed germination, antioxidant enzyme activity levels and other physiological indicators were analyzed to clarify the regulatory effects of exogenous melatonin on cotton seed germination under salt-stress conditions. Method] The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse of Hebei Agricultural University in Baoding City, Hebei Province from 2018 to 2019 using Guoxin Cotton 9 as the material. The germination rate, germination potential, seed biomass after germination, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activities, as well as the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, of cotton seeds were measured after exposure to different melatonin concentrations (0, 10, 20, 50 and 100 μmol·L^－1) and 150 mmol·L^－1 NaCl treatments. Result] After germination, the germination rate, germination potential, radical length and seed biomass significantly decreased, as did the SOD, POD and CAT activities. However, the MDA content significantly increased under salt-stress conditions. Low exogenous melatonin concentrations (10 and 20 μmol·L^－1) increased the germination potential, germination rate and biomass of cotton seeds, and promoted the elongation of radicals; however high melatonin concentrations (50 and 100 μmol·L^－1) inhibited cotton seed germination and decreased seed biomass after germination. Low melatonin concentrations (10 and 20 μmol·L^－1) increased the SOD, POD and CAT activities and decreased the MDA content in cotton seeds. Conclusion] Low melatonin concentrations could promote germination and improve the salt tolerance of cotton seeds, while high melatonin concentrations could inhibit their germination. A 20 μmol·L^－1 melatonin concentration is appropriate for regulating cotton seed germination under salt-stress conditions.