Integrative WGCNA analysis uncovers the molecular framework of melatonin-mediated drought stress mitigation in potato

作者：Songtao Liu, Yan Wang, Xinwei Wang, Xiaonuo Zhang, Yanmin Li, Yangjie Chen, Jie Yang, Lu Liu, Xiaoting Zhai · 发表于：BMC Plant Biology · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.1186/s12870-026-08315-1 · 被引用次数：2 · 研究领域：Circadian rhythm and melatonin、Plant Molecular Biology Research、Light effects on plants

Drought is one of the major abiotic stress factors limiting the growth, development, and yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Melatonin, a novel plant hormone, has recently shown significant potential in enhancing plant stress resistance. However, its regulatory mechanisms in response to drought stress in potato remain unclear. In this study, potato seedlings were treated with different concentrations of exogenous melatonin (50, 100, and 150 µmol L⁻¹) under controlled drought conditions to systematically evaluate their physiological and molecular responses. The results demonstrated that appropriate melatonin application, especially at 100 µmol L⁻¹ effectively alleviated drought-induced growth inhibition, oxidative stress, and photosynthetic impairment. This was evidenced by increased plant height, enhanced photosynthetic efficiency, reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, decreased cell death and lipid peroxidation, as well as elevated antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase - SOD, catalase - CAT, peroxidase - POD) and levels of osmoprotectants (proline - Pro and soluble sugars - SS). Transcriptome analysis revealed that melatonin modulates numerous drought-responsive differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including multiple transcription factor (TF) families (e.g., MYB, NAC, ERF), and pathways related to photosynthesis, antioxidative metabolism, hormone signaling, and carbon metabolism. Furthermore, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGC...