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2026 Vol.35, Issue 2

Original Articles

Exogenous Application of Hydrogen Peroxide Alleviates High-temperature Stress in Hami Melon Seedlings

하미과 육묘기 과산화수소 처리에 의한 고온스트레스 경감 효과 구명

Dasom Han1
,
Mi-Kyung Kwon1
,
Hyun Dong Jang2
,
Jong-Seok Park3*
한 다솜1
,
권 미경1
,
장 현동2
,
박 종석3*
1Researcher, Fruit Vegetable Research Institute, Chungcheongnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services, Buyeo 33119, Korea
2Senior Researcher, Fruit Vegetable Research Institute, Chungcheongnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services, Buyeo 33119, Korea
3Professor, Horticultural Sciences, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
1충청남도농업기술원 과채연구소 연구사
2충청남도농업기술원 과채연구소 연구관
3충남대학교 농업생명과학대학 원예학과 교수
*Corresponding Author
30 April 2026. pp. 57-66
PDF XML Citation
Abstract

This study evaluated whether exogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) can mitigate high-temperature (HT) injury in Hami melon (Cucumis melo var. inodorus Jacq.) seedlings by enhancing antioxidant capacity and facilitating growth recovery. Three-week-old seedlings were foliar-sprayed with 250 mM H₂O₂ at 3-day intervals and then exposed to HT conditions (35°C day/24°C night). Growth traits, leaf area, total chlorophyll, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity (DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging assays), lipid peroxidation [malondialdehyde (MDA)], and lignin content were quantified. HT markedly inhibited seedling growth, reduced leaf expansion and leaf area, and decreased total chlorophyll content. However, H2O2 treatment attenuated these HT-induced losses by partially restoring leaf development and growth and by maintaining or recovering total chlorophyll under HT. Under HT, H2O2-treated seedlings exhibited increased SOD and CAT activities, indicating strengthened reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification, while MDA levels decreased, suggesting improved redox homeostasis and reduced membrane damage. Non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity generally increased under HT, with clear cultivar-dependent patterns: ‘HG’ showed relatively higher basal antioxidant capacity, whereas ‘HJ’ displayed a more pronounced inducible response under heat stress. Lignin content increased in both cultivars, further implying cell-wall reinforcement under HT; notably, ‘HG’ exhibited a larger H2O2-induced increase in lignin accumulation, consistent with enhanced structural defense. Collectively, these results show that foliar H2O2 functions as an effective priming agent to alleviate HT stress in Hami melon seedlings by coordinating enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defenses and strengthening structural barriers. This work provides a physiological basis for deploying H2O2 foliar priming as a practical strategy to improve heat tolerance—particularly relevant to nursery and field production under warming summer conditions.

Keywords
antioxidant enzymes
lipid peroxidation
lignin
reactive oxygen species

본 연구에서는 고온기 하미과 육묘 단계에서 과산화수소 경엽처리에 따른 고온스트레스 경감 효과를 평가하고, 이에 수반되는 유묘(‘HJ’, ‘HG’)의 항산화 활성 증가와 생장 억제 회복 등 반응 기작과 품종 간 반응 차이를 비교·분석하였다. 3주령 유묘에 250mM 과산화수소를 3일 간격으로 엽면살포한 뒤, 주간 35°C/야간 24°C의 고온에 노출시켰다. 그리고 생육특성, 총 엽록소 함량, superoxide dismutase와 catalase 항산화 활성, DPPH 및 ABTS 라디칼 소거능, 지질과산화, 리그닌 함량을 정량하였다. 고온은 유묘 생장을 크게 억제하고, 잎의 전개와 엽록소 함량을 감소시켰다. 그러나 과산화수소 처리는 고온에 의해 억제된 잎 전개와 생장을 부분적으로 회복시키고, 총 엽록소 함량을 유지·회복시키는 경향을 보였다. 또한 고온 하에서 과산화수소 처리 유묘는 SOD·CAT 활성이 증가하여 ROS 해독 능력이 강화되었으며, 지질과산화(TBARS)는 감소하여 세포막 손상이 완화되었음을 시사하였다. 비효소적 항산화능(DPPH, ABTS)은 고온 조건에서 전반적으로 증가하였고, 품종별로 ‘HG’는 상대적으로 높은 기본 항산화능을, ‘HJ’는 고온에서의 유도 반응이 두드러지는 양상을 보였다. 리그닌 함량 또한 두 품종 모두 증가하여 고온 조건에서의 세포벽 강화 가능성을 추가로 시사했으며, 특히 ‘HG’는 고온 조건에서 과산화수소 처리시 리그닌 축적 폭이 크게 나타나 구조적 방어 기능이 강화되는 특징을 보였다. 결과적으로 육묘기 과산화수소 엽면살포는 효소적·비효소적 항산화 방어와 세포벽 보강을 동반하는 프라이밍 효과를 통해 하미과 유묘의 고온스트레스 경감에 기여하며, 여름철 고온환경에서 육묘 및 포장 재배 시 내서성 향상을 위한 실용적 방법으로서 과산화수소 엽면살포 처리에 대한 생리적 근거를 제시한다.

키워드
리그닌
지질과산화
항산화효소
활성산소종
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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Society for Bio-Environment Control
  • Publisher(Ko) :(사)한국생물환경조절학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of Bio-Environment Control
  • Journal Title(Ko) :생물환경조절학회지
  • Volume : 35
  • No :2
  • Pages :57-66
  • Received Date : 2025-10-02
  • Revised Date : 2026-01-15
  • Accepted Date : 2026-01-19
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.12791/KSBEC.2026.35.2.057
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