Melatonin As a Protective Agent Against Environmental Stresses: A Review into Its Molecular Regulation in Plants

Abstract

Understanding the impact of melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) on plant gene expression is crucial for unlocking its full potential as a tool for crop improvement and stress tolerance. Melatonin has emerged to have several influences on the transcriptional activity of numerous genes, helping to orchestrate plant responses to environmental cues. Furthermore, it has been shown that melatonin signaling pathways control downstream gene expression to ensure proper plant growth and development. Therefore, clearing out the complex interaction between melatonin and plant gene expression has enormous potential to further our knowledge of plant biology and develop novel farming techniques. In this review, we have gathered the recent studies that elucidate the role of applied melatonin in regulating stress-responsive genes under various abiotic stresses.