Next Article in Journal
Integrated Analysis of miRNA and mRNA Expression Profiles in Spleen of Specific Pathogen-Free Chicken Infected with Avian Reticuloendotheliosis Virus Strain SNV
Next Article in Special Issue
Melatonin Levels in Preterm and Term Infants and Their Mothers
Previous Article in Journal
Identifying Genome-Wide Sequence Variations and Candidate Genes Implicated in Self-Incompatibility by Resequencing Fragaria viridis
Review

Melatonin Mediates Enhancement of Stress Tolerance in Plants

1
College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
2
Department of Horticulture, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh
3
College of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(5), 1040; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20051040
Received: 12 January 2019 / Revised: 18 February 2019 / Accepted: 22 February 2019 / Published: 27 February 2019
Melatonin is a multifunctional signaling molecule, ubiquitously distributed in different parts of plants and responsible for stimulating several physiological responses to adverse environmental conditions. In the current review, we showed that the biosynthesis of melatonin occurred in plants by themselves, and accumulation of melatonin fluctuated sharply by modulating its biosynthesis and metabolic pathways under stress conditions. Melatonin, with its precursors and derivatives, acted as a powerful growth regulator, bio-stimulator, and antioxidant, which delayed leaf senescence, lessened photosynthesis inhibition, and improved redox homeostasis and the antioxidant system through a direct scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) under abiotic and biotic stress conditions. In addition, exogenous melatonin boosted the growth, photosynthetic, and antioxidant activities in plants, confirming their tolerances against drought, unfavorable temperatures, salinity, heavy metals, acid rain, and pathogens. However, future research, together with recent advancements, would support emerging new approaches to adopt strategies in overcoming the effect of hazardous environments on crops and may have potential implications in expanding crop cultivation against harsh conditions. Thus, farming communities and consumers will benefit from elucidating food safety concerns. View Full-Text
Keywords: endogenous melatonin; exogenous melatonin; growth regulator; bio-stimulator; antioxidants; oxidative stress endogenous melatonin; exogenous melatonin; growth regulator; bio-stimulator; antioxidants; oxidative stress
Show Figures

Figure 1

MDPI and ACS Style

Debnath, B.; Islam, W.; Li, M.; Sun, Y.; Lu, X.; Mitra, S.; Hussain, M.; Liu, S.; Qiu, D. Melatonin Mediates Enhancement of Stress Tolerance in Plants. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20, 1040. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20051040

AMA Style

Debnath B, Islam W, Li M, Sun Y, Lu X, Mitra S, Hussain M, Liu S, Qiu D. Melatonin Mediates Enhancement of Stress Tolerance in Plants. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2019; 20(5):1040. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20051040

Chicago/Turabian Style

Debnath, Biswojit, Waqar Islam, Min Li, Yueting Sun, Xiaocao Lu, Sangeeta Mitra, Mubasher Hussain, Shuang Liu, and Dongliang Qiu. 2019. "Melatonin Mediates Enhancement of Stress Tolerance in Plants" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 20, no. 5: 1040. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20051040

Find Other Styles
Note that from the first issue of 2016, MDPI journals use article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Access Map by Country/Region

1
Back to TopTop