Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, MT) can mitigate abotic stress, including drought stress on a number of crops. However, it is unclear whether and how seed priming with melatonin alleviates the effects of drought stress on seed germination and seedling growth of triticale (Triticale hexaploide L.). In this study, we investigated the effects of seed priming with MT on seed germination, protective enzyme activity, superoxide anion, and hydrogen peroxide in triticale under PEG-6000 induced drought stress. Seed priming with 20 μM MT alleviated the adverse effects of PEG-6000 induced drought stress on seed germination and seedling growth. Triticale seeds primed with 20 μM MT exhibited improved germination potential, germination rate, germ and radicle length. Specifically, MT priming increased the germination rate by 57.67% compared with unprimed seeds. Seed priming with melatonin also alleviated the adverse effects of PEG-6000 induced drought stress on triticale seedlings. MT pretreatment with 20 μM significantly increased the net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, plant height, leaf area, and relative chlorophyll concentration, enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase, and decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malonaldehyde content in the seeds (germ and radicle) and seedlings (leaf and root). Collectively, these results suggest that seed priming with melatonin promotes ROS scavenging capacity and enhances energy supply and antioxidant enzyme activities to alleviate the adverse effects of drought stress in triticale.

This article deeply analyzes the current situation and key technologies of cotton production in Xinjiang. From 2020 to 2024, the average total fiber yield, planting area, and unit yield of cotton in Xinjiang reached 5.296 million tons, 2.4644 million hectares, and 2149.72 kg/ha, respectively. Among them, the highest total yield, planting area, and unit yield were 5.686 million tons, 2.5061 million hectares, and 2322.8 kg/ha, respectively. Additionally, the cotton quality of Xinjiang is excellent, and the comprehensive mechanization operation coverage rate has reached 97.0%. The success of Xinjiang’s cotton industry is primarily attributed to the development and promotion of a series of cotton planting technologies with distinct regional characteristics and leading technological levels, including identifying the “early, short, and dense” cultivation mode as a technological breakthrough, integrating comprehensive prevention and control of pest, disease, weed, and natural disaster, water-saving through mulched drip irrigation, and standardized management of mechanically harvested cotton. These technologies fully demonstrate the high adaptability of local cotton production techniques to natural conditions. Through these advanced technologies, the unfavorable factors of relatively poor natural ecological conditions in Xinjiang’s cotton region have been overcome, and the goal of high and stable cotton yield, high quality, simple, and efficient, has been successfully achieved. Xinjiang cotton not only provides strong support for local economic and social development, but also offers a “China Xinjiang cotton cultivation application plan” for the high quality and sustainable development of global cotton, particularly in cotton production areas with similar natural ecological conditions as Xinjiang.