Melatonin: A Small Molecule but Important for Salt Stress Tolerance in Plants.

ABSTRACT: Salt stress is one of the most serious limiting factors in worldwide agricultural production, resulting in huge annual yield loss. Since 1995, melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine)-an ancient multi-functional molecule in eukaryotes and prokaryotes-has been extensively validated as a regulator of plant growth and development, as well as various stress responses, especially its crucial role in plant salt tolerance. Salt stress and exogenous melatonin lead to an increase in endogenous melatonin levels, partly via the phyto-melatonin receptor CAND2/PMTR1. Melatonin plays important roles, as a free radical scavenger and antioxidant, in the improvement of antioxidant systems under salt stress. These functions improve photosynthesis, ion homeostasis, and activate a series of downstream

SUBMITTER: Zhan H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6387279 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature