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Physiological and transcriptomic insights into the alleviating effects of dopamine on drought stress in loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) seedlings

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Drought stress impairs metabolic processes and suppresses growth in loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.) seedlings, resulting in compromised physiological function. Although previous studies have indicated that dopamine can improve plant resistance to abiotic stresses, its regulatory role and molecular mechanisms underlying drought tolerance in loquat seedlings remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of exogenous dopamine on the drought resistance of loquat seedlings and its underlying mechanisms by integrating morphological, physiological, and transcriptomic analyses. The results revealed that dopamine pretreatment increased photosynthetic pigment content and stomatal aperture, thereby enhancing photosynthetic capacity. Concurrently, the activities of antioxidant enzymes and levels of antioxidants were significantly increased, which effectively scavenged excess reactive oxygen species (ROS), reduced membrane lipid peroxidation, and alleviated wilting symptoms. Transcriptomic analysis identified a total of 377 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in the dopamine-mediated response to drought stress. These genes were primarily enriched in glutathione metabolism, MAPK signaling pathway, plant hormone signal transduction, and plant-pathogen interaction pathways. The improvement of photosynthetic efficiency and antioxidant capacity was mainly associated with CaM4, MKK9, PYR/PYL, and SnRK2 genes, as well as WRKY, AP2/ERF, and HD-Zip transcription factors.

Source: Plant Physiology and Biochemistry

DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111472