Association of melatonin and nickel in environmental conditions on the physiology and productivity of soybean.

• Grant number: 24/14551-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy
• Principal Investigator: Ana Cláudia Pacheco Santos
• Grantee: Luis Fernando de Paiva Lourenção
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias. Universidade do Oeste Paulista (UNOESTE). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/03947-6 - Responses of different soybean cultivars under melatonin application and the use of phenotyping by image for flower and pod counting., BE.EP.IC

Abstract

In an era marked by environmental changes, the need to increase agricultural productivity to meet the food demands of humanity is growing. In this context, soybeans play a crucial role for both human and animal consumption. The quest for higher crop yields faces significant challenges due to high temperatures and drought, which cause high levels of stress in crops. Nickel (Ni) fertilization can play a fundamental role in increasing productivity, as this micronutrient is directly linked to the biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) process. Additionally, the use of melatonin (MEL), a bioregulator, has shown efficacy in mitigating the effects of stress, such as that caused by abiotic stress, by promote the plant's antioxidant system. Research on the association of melatonin and nickel for mitigating abiotic stress in soybeans is still scarce. Under field cultivation conditions, an experimental area in a tropical climate, with high average temperatures, will be used to investigate the isolated and combined application of MEL and Ni in soybean plants. The following treatments will be tested: 1) No application of MEL and Ni (control); 2) Application of MEL; 3) Application of Ni; and 4) Combined application of MEL and Ni. Physiological, biochemical, nutritional status, and productivity parameters will be evaluated. With the results, we aim to understand the synergism between MEL and Ni in plants, potentially presenting an effective method to mitigate the deleterious effects of abiotic stress on soybean production.