AMELIORATION OF DROUGHT STRESS IN Hordeum vulgare (L.) BY MELATONIN AND Bacillus megaterium

Document Type : Original Article

10.21608/ejas.2025.447842

Abstract

ABSTRACT
A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of melatonin foliar application at 0.10 mM and seed inoculation with Bacillus megaterium (107-108 CFU ml-1) on growth, yield, biochemical properties and soil enzymatic activity of barley cv. Giza 133 under drought stress (70 % of water requirements). The findings showed that grain and straw yields, chlorophyll content and relative water content were significantly reduced under drought conditions. However, electrolyte leakage percentage, peroxidase activity and proline content statistically increased because of water lack. Using melatonin and B. megaterium significantly improved growth and yield characters, total chlorophyll content, relative water content and soil biological properties. Melatonin and B. megaterium showed significant decreases in electrolyte leakage % and peroxidase activity under drought stress. This study recommends using melatonin as foliar spray and B. megaterium as seed inoculant to modulate abiotic stress-adaptive mechanisms, thereby protecting stressed plants and increasing plant resistance for drought conditions.

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