Plant Physiol BiochemJClub
Systemic root-zone melatonin application balances vegetative biomass with postharvest biochemical antioxidant capacity in soilless lettuce production.
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry · · Journal Article · Open access
Hafezi Bakhtiari, Etemadi + more
Abstract ↗AI summary
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Root-zone melatonin at 100 μM in soilless lettuce cv. ‘Lollo Bionda’ reduces early postharvest deterioration, cutting weight loss by 50% and preventing PPO activity from rising.
- Why it matters: Soilless lettuce often forms succulent tissue that deteriorates quickly after harvest, forcing a trade-off between maximizing biomass and maintaining supply-chain shelf life.
- What they did: Plants received fertigation with 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100 μM melatonin across the growth cycle, then were stored at 4°C for 15 days; growth, chlorophyll, weight loss, and antioxidant biochemistry were measured.
- The result: The 100 μM dose delayed total phenolic content increase (maximum at day 9), upregulated superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase, and kept PPO activity near basal levels (0.14 U mg−1 protein).
The findingWhy it mattersWhat they didThe result
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- Open access