Combined application of melatonin and salicylic acid improves drought tolerance in pepper (Capsicum annuum) through coordinated physiological and biochemical responses.

Combined application of melatonin and salicylic acid enhances drought tolerance in pepper by up to the greatest extent among treatments, improving growth and reducing oxidative damage.

• Why it matters: Drought stress severely impacts pepper growth, water content, and metabolic stability, creating a need for effective strategies to mitigate these effects and sustain crop productivity.
• What they did: The study applied melatonin, salicylic acid, or their combination to pepper plants under drought conditions, assessing physiological and biochemical responses such as biomass, water content, pigment levels, oxidative markers, and antioxidant enzyme activities.
• The result: The combined treatment most effectively improved biomass, tissue hydration, pigment content, and antioxidant enzyme activities, reducing oxidative damage and suggesting a promising approach for drought resilience in pepper cultivation.