Salt stress severely restricts the growth of plants and threatens the development of agriculture throughout the world. Worldwide studies have shown that exogenous melatonin (MT) can effectively improve the growth of plants under salt stress. Through a meta-analysis of 549 observations, this study first explored the effects of salt stress characteristics and MT application characteristics on MT regulated plant growth under salt stress. The results show that MT has a wide range of regulatory effects on plant growth indicators under salt stress, of which the regulatory effect on root indexes is the strongest, and this regulatory effect is not species-specific. The intensity of salt stress did not affect the positive effect of MT on plant growth, but the application effect of MT in soil was stronger than that in rooting medium. This meta-analysis also revealed that the foliar application of a concentration between 100-200 μM is the best condition for MT to enhance plant growth under salt stress. The results can inspire scientific research and practical production, while seeking the maximum improvement in plant salt tolerance under salt stress.
Keywords: melatonin; meta-analysis; plant growth; salt stress.