A study published in BMC Plant Biology reports that melatonin, a plant hormone, can partially mitigate the growth inhibition caused by the herbicide propyzamide in mung bean seedlings. The study specifically examined whether melatonin exerts a protective effect on this development and to what extent this effect is associated with cortical microtubules, which are essential structures for cell division and plant growth.

The researchers aimed to understand how the application of melatonin interacts with this specific type of stress. By focusing on microtubules, the study sought to clarify the mechanism behind melatonin’s potential protective role. The investigation was designed to determine if melatonin could counteract the disorganisation of these cellular structures induced by the herbicide, thereby preserving normal vegetative development in the seedlings.

The experimental design involved exposing mung bean seedlings to propyzamide to induce stress, with some groups also receiving melatonin treatment. Morphometric and morphological analyses were performed to assess the impact of these treatments on seedling growth. The results showed that propyzamide markedly inhibited seedling growth by approximately 25% compared with the control group.

In contrast, the application of melatonin alone stimulated growth by 10–20% relative to the control. This finding suggests that melatonin has a general positive effect on vegetative development in mung bean seedlings under non-stressed conditions. However, the primary focus of the study was on the interaction between melatonin and propyzamide-induced stress. The researchers observed that when melatonin was applied in combination with propyzamide, it partially counteracted the herbicide’s negative effects. This protective effect was evidenced by a twofold increase in fluorescence intensity in immunofluorescence analysis of β-tubulin localisation, indicating a restoration of microtubule organisation.

The strongest protective effect was observed with a concentration of 20 µM melatonin. At this concentration, seedling length increased by 22% relative to the group treated with propyzamide alone. Furthermore, the growth inhibition was reduced by 17% relative to the control group. These results demonstrate that melatonin can significantly alleviate the stress caused by propyzamide at optimal concentrations. The dose-dependent nature of this effect was further confirmed by testing a higher concentration of 30 µM melatonin. At this level, the protective effect was less pronounced, with only approximately 5% stimulation observed in combination with propyzamide.

The study highlights the importance of dosage in the application of melatonin as a potential safener. The findings indicate that while melatonin can mitigate herbicide-induced stress, its effectiveness is not linear and depends on the concentration used.

The research contributes to a better understanding of melatonin’s role in regulating growth under stress conditions. By demonstrating its mitigating effect on propyzamide-induced stress in V. radiata seedlings, the study provides new insights into the protective role of melatonin against microtubule-disrupting herbicides. This is the first time such an effect has been demonstrated in this specific context.

The study’s conclusions emphasize the significance of melatonin in plant physiology, particularly in the context of herbicide exposure. These results open up new possibilities for exploring the use of melatonin in agriculture to protect crops from herbicide damage.

Subject of Research: Effect of melatonin on propyzamide-induced stress tolerance in Vigna radiata seedlings

Article Title: Effect of melatonin on propyzamide-induced stress tolerance in Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek seedlings

Article References: Wojtczak, A., Olczyk, M., Torbicz, W., & Karcz, P. W. (2026). Effect of melatonin on propyzamide-induced stress tolerance in Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek seedlings. BMC Plant Biology. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-026-09826-7

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12870-026-09826-7

Keywords: melatonin, propyzamide, Vigna radiata, microtubules, plant stress, herbicide tolerance, seedling growth, cell division, BMC Plant Biology, Effect, propyzamide-induced, stress