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The SlWRKY75-SlASDAC Module Regulates Melatonin Levels to Modulate Leaf Physiological Traits and Seedling Salt
Sen Zhang1, Wei Zhang1, Yidan Zhou1
1Plant Biotechnology Research Centre, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Centre, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Journal of Pineal Research
|April 27, 2026
Summary
Tomato N-acetylserotonin deacetylase (SlASDAC) negatively regulates melatonin levels, impacting plant traits and salt tolerance. Its knockout enhances melatonin, improving pigmentation, fruit carotenoids, and seedling salt resilience.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Molecular Biology
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Melatonin regulates plant growth, development, and stress responses.
- Melatonin catabolism pathways are underexplored in crops like tomato.
- Understanding these pathways is crucial for crop improvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of tomato N-acetylserotonin deacetylase (SlASDAC) in melatonin catabolism.
- To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms controlling melatonin levels in tomato.
- To assess the impact of melatonin modulation on tomato physiology and stress tolerance.
Main Methods:
- Gene expression analysis (SlASDAC and SlWRKY75).
- Protein localization and interaction studies (SlASDAC-melatonin).
- Functional analysis via gene silencing (VIGS) and knockout (CRISPR/Cas9) of SlASDAC and SlWRKY75.
- Physiological trait assessment (pigmentation, trichomes, carotenoids, salt tolerance).
Main Results:
- SlASDAC acts as a negative regulator of melatonin accumulation, localized to chloroplasts.
- SlASDAC knockout increased melatonin, enhancing leaf traits and fruit carotenoids.
- SlASDAC knockout lines showed improved salt tolerance during germination and seedling stages.
- SlWRKY75 represses SlASDAC transcription, forming a regulatory module.
Conclusions:
- The SlWRKY75-SlASDAC module fine-tunes melatonin levels in tomato.
- Modulating melatonin via SlASDAC impacts leaf physiology and seedling salt tolerance.
- This pathway offers targets for breeding enhanced, stress-resilient tomato cultivars.
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