Melatonin: Current status and future perspectives in horticultural plants

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Physiology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Global warming exacerbates abiotic stresses, threatening crop productivity and food security.
• Plants produce phytohormones, like melatonin (MEL), to mitigate stress impacts.
• Melatonin is recognized as a bio-stimulator influencing numerous plant functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the multifaceted roles of melatonin in horticultural crops under abiotic stress.
• To elucidate melatonin's mechanisms in enhancing plant physiological functions and stress tolerance.
• To provide insights for developing stress-resilient crops in altered environments.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on recent advancements in melatonin research in plants.
• Analysis of melatonin's effects on seed germination, growth, root architecture, and photosynthesis.
• Examination of melatonin's role in antioxidant defense and cellular stability under stress.

Main Results:

• Melatonin significantly improves seed germination, seedling growth, and root system architecture.
• It enhances photosynthetic efficiency and overall plant development under stress conditions.
• Melatonin regulates antioxidant enzymes and scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS), reducing oxidative damage.

Conclusions:

• Melatonin acts as a potent bio-stimulator and plant growth regulator, enhancing tolerance to various abiotic stresses.
• Its application improves nutrient uptake, osmolyte production, and membrane stability in plants.
• Understanding melatonin's functions offers strategies for developing climate-resilient horticultural crops.