Regulation of Plant Growth and Development by Melatonin

Abstract

Melatonin is a naturally occurring chemical with pleiotropic effects in various species. In plants, melatonin is associated with a variety of plant physiological processes, including plant growth and development, stress responses, etc. Thus, melatonin may hold promise for improving crop yields and agricultural sustainability. This review describes the biosynthetic mode of melatonin and its properties and summarizes its functions in growth, development, and reproduction. In addition, the role of melatonin in plants facing various stressful environments is elaborated upon, and its relationship with other phytohormones is summarized. Through this review, we recognize the problems and challenges facing melatonin research and propose some feasible solutions.