Antioxidant activation, cell wall reinforcement, and reactive oxygen species regulation promote resistance to waterlogging stress in hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

The findings of this study suggest that ROS modulation, increased antioxidase activity, lignin formation, and the expression of stress resistance genes help peppers with waterlogging tolerance resist flooding stress in the early stages. These findings provide a basis for further investigation of the molecular mechanisms responsible for waterlogging tolerance in pepper and may be a critical reference for the breeding of hot pepper.