PENGARUH PERENDAMAN BENIH PADA KONSENTRASI MELATONIN TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN DAN HASIL PAKCOY NAIBAI (BRASSICACEAE CRUCIFERAE VAR. NAIBAI) PADA HIDROPONIK SISTEM NFT (NUTRIENT FILM TECHNIQUE)

Pakcoy Naibai (Brassica cruciferae var. Naibai) is a leafy vegetable that has high commercial value and good yield potential when grown hydroponically. One technique that is often used is the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) system, but this system is quite susceptible to environmental stress. Melatonin is known as a natural growth regulator that can increase plant tolerance to various stress factors. This study aims to examine the effect of melatonin concentration on the growth and yield of Pakcoy Naibai in an NFT hydroponic system and to determine the optimal concentration. This study was conducted from February to March 2025 at E&A Hidroponik in Batu using a completely randomized design (CRD) with 10 melatonin concentrations (0–450 µM) and 3 replicates. The parameters observed included germination percentage, plant height, number of leaves, wet and dry crown weight, wet and dry root weight, and root length. The results showed that melatonin treatment had a significant effect on all variables. A concentration of 50 µM produced the highest germination rate (84%), optimal plant height (19.09 cm), and best dry leaf weight (4.81 g), while high concentrations (350–450 µM) significantly reduced all parameters. Thus, melatonin effectively enhances pakcoy naibai gowth when used at the appropriate concentration.