Dian Siswanto, Aldian Dwi Nanda, Imroatin Muwahida, Nurul Istiqomah, Aminatun Munawarti, Retno Mastuti
This study investigates the melatonin profile in the leaves of Liberica (Coffea liberica) and Robusta (Coffea canephora) coffee plants, assessing its potential as a growth indicator during the vegetative phase. Our research posits that melatonin concentrations vary with leaf age and can be effectively detected through Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. Results showed that all leaf samples-young, middle-aged, and old-from both species exhibited melatonin, confirming its role in various physiological processes. LC-MS analysis revealed melatonin concentrations of 0.72% and 0.58% in young and middle-aged Liberica leaves, respectively. In contrast, Robusta leaves showed slightly higher levels in young leaves (0.73%) and lower in middle-aged leaves (0.51%). These findings suggest that melatonin is crucial in promoting growth and stress tolerance, particularly in young leaves. Furthermore, the variations in melatonin concentrations between the two species indicate potential species-specific adaptations related to photosynthesis and environmental resilience. The results underscore the pivotal role of melatonin in the developmental stages of coffee plants and propose its potential as a growth indicator. This finding paves the way for future research to refine and optimize the analytical methods for detection of melatonin, sparking further interest and exploration in this area. © The Authors, published by EDP Sciences.
Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Brawijaya University, Jl. Veteran, East Java, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Doctoral Program, Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Brawijaya University, East Java, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; National Research and Innovation Agency of The Republic of Indonesia (BRIN), Jakarta, 10340, Indonesia
