Molecular analysis of the emergence of Allium cepa L. Seeds response to saline stress and treatment with essential oil of Cordia verbenacea.

Salt stress is one of the main challenges for plant development and production. To address this issue, new strategies with organic compounds in soils affected by salinity are being investigated. This study investigated how onion (Allium cepa) responds to salt stress induced by NaCl (150 mM), in conjunction with Cordia verbenacea essential oil. Chemical analyses of the soil and essential oil were performed to identify their main chemical constituents. Seeds of A. cepa were planted and irrigated daily with test solutions. After 21 days, germination rates were evaluated, and leaf length and leaf area were measured. After 42 days, the root length was analyzed. In addition, molecular analysis of the main constituents of the essential oil was conducted using molecular docking with a protein from Allium cepa. The results showed that the concentration of 500 μg/mL of Cordia verbenacea essential oil + 150 mM NaCl significantly increased the length of the leaves, mitigating the adverse effects of salt stress. The treatment also resulted in an increase in the number of roots, suggesting a potential protective effect. The in-silico analysis revealed that ( ±)-α-Pinene, (-)-β-caryophyllene and Alloaromadendrene predominantly formed alkyl interactions, suggesting that such interactions may contribute to the protective effects observed on leaf and root growth. These findings indicate that Cordia verbenacea essential oil may be a promising tool to minimize the impacts of salt stress on plants, promoting the growth and sustainable productivity of A. cepa under saline conditions.