Effects of exogenous melatonin on NaCl stress in Eriobotrya japonica seedlings Overall design: Selected loquat group cultivated seedlings with consistent growth were divided into three groups, which were expressed as CK, ST and MTST (optimal treatment concentration), respectively. plants in CK group were used as blank control and watered; plants in ST group were watered first and then NaCl stress; plants in MTST group were root-irrigated first with screened optimal concentration of melatonin solution and then NaCl stress; 10 pots were planted in each treatment group with three seedlings in each pot, and the procedure was repeated for three times.