Role of exogenous melatonin involved in phenolic acid metabolism of germinated hulless barley under NaCl stress

Abstract

In this study, the effects of exogenous MT on phenolic acids biosynthesis and the response to NaCl stress in germinating barley were investigated to explicate the role and molecular mechanism of MT in the regulation of phenolic acids and biomass under salt stress. Results showed that exogenous MT increased the gene expression and activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase and cinnamate 4-hydroxylase involved in phenols biosynthesis. As a result, phenolic acids contents significantly increased, and ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid were mostly induced by exogenous MT treatment. Meanwhile, exogenous MT application reduced the damage of NaCl stress, including promotion sprout growth, biomass and Ca²⁺ influs, malonaldehyde and H₂O₂ content reduction, increases of peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in barley seedlings. These results indicated that exogenous MT was essential for inducing phenolic acids accumulation and alleviated the inhibition of NaCl stress on barley seedlings.

Keywords: Germination; Hulless barley; Melatonin; NaCl stress; Phenolic acids.