Physiological and Agronomic Responses of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) to Melatonin Seed Pretreatment and GammaAminobutyric Acid Foliar Application under Accelerated Aging

Abstract

This research aims to investigate the effects of melatonin and gammaaminobutyric acid (GABA) on improving plant quality from aged peanut seeds, a factorial experiment was conducted in 2021–2022 using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Treatments included two seed quality levels (normal and aged), three melatonin pretreatment concentrations (0, 50, or 100 μM), and two GABA foliar application levels (0, or 1 mM). Seed aging was induced at 40°C and 96–100% humidity for 96 hours, followed by 8-hour melatonin soaking. Aging reduced pegs and pods per plant, 100-seed weight, and relative water content while increasing MDA, anthocyanin, and antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT). Pretreatment with 100 μM melatonin improved yield traits and enzyme activity in aged seeds. Both 50 and 100 μM melatonin increased anthocyanin and reduced MDA. GABA foliar application (1 mM) enhanced pegs per plant, 100-seed weight, RWC, shell yield, and antioxidant enzyme activity, while reducing MDA. Seed aging reduced yield by 45.81%, but melatonin pretreatments (50 and 100 μM) improved it by 9.91% and 11.33%, respectively. In normal seeds, these treatments increased yield by 7.53% and 14.66%. GABA application improved yield by 6.53%. Path analysis showed that pod number and 100-seed weight had the strongest positive effects on yield, while SOD and CAT had indirect adverse effects. Overall, pretreatment with 100 μM melatonin and 1 mM GABA foliar application is recommended to mitigate seed aging effects and improve peanut yield.

Keywords

• Amino acid
• Antioxidant
• Osmopriming and Seed deterioration

Supporting Institution

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Ethical Statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest or personal relationships

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