Assessment of salt and drought stress on the biochemical and molecular functioning of onion cultivars.

backgroundSalt and drought stress are the main environmental constraints that limit onion growth and productivity. Türkiye is the fifth largest onion producer, whereas the stress conditions are increasing in the region, resulting in poor crop growth. METHODS AND

resultsA current study was conducted under greenhouse conditions according to a completely randomized design with factorial arrangements to evaluate the performance of onion cultivars. Plants were subjected to salt stress with an application of 750 mM NaCl and drought stress was applied by depriving plants of irrigation water for 20 days to measure biochemical and transcript changes. The antioxidant activities of the cultivars were quantified by using four different methods, i.e., 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity, 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The damage to pigments, phenolic, osmolytes, and hydrogen peroxide (H

conclusionThe results of the current study will fill the gap of missing literature in onion at biochemical and molecular levels. Additionally, resilient cultivars can effectively cope with abiotic stresses to ensure future food security.