Melatonin, an underestimated natural substance with great potential for agricultural application

• Published in: Acta physiologiae plantarum Vol. 35; no. 12; pp. 3285 - 3292
• Main Authors: Janas, Krystyna Maria, Posmyk, Małgorzata Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.12.2013; Springer Berlin Heidelberg
• Subjects: Agriculture; antioxidant activity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; crop production; food quality; functional foods; growth promotion; human health; Life Sciences; melatonin; nitrogen; oxygen; phytoremediation; Plant Anatomy/Development; Plant Biochemistry; Plant Genetics and Genomics; plant growth; plant growth substances; Plant Pathology; Plant Physiology; pollutants; Review; seed germination; seedlings; seeds; Biostimulators; Melatonin; Abiotic stress; Seed priming
• ISSN: 0137-5881; 1861-1664
• DOI: 10.1007/s11738-013-1372-0

Melatonin (MEL) was thought to be only a neurotransmitter found in vertebrates until its detection in other organisms including plants. Although the number of publications on MEL function in plants is expanding, the knowledge of this subject is still insufficient. Among many functions which MEL performs in plants, its role as an antioxidant and a growth promoter is most supported by experimental evidence. This compound is an independent plant growth regulator and it may mediate the activities of other plant growth regulators. Due to its antioxidant properties MEL may also stabilize cell redox status and protect tissues against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species which accumulated under stressful environment. Some researchers propose that MEL could be used to improve the phytoremediation efficiency of plants against different pollutants. In this paper we show that exogenous MEL applied into the seeds could be a good biostimulator improving not only seed germination, seedling/plant growth but also crop production especially under stress conditions. We also believe that this compound can increase food quality (the aspect of functional food) and may improve human health. Since MEL is inexpensive and safe for animals and humans its application as a biostimulator could be a good, feasible and cost-effective method useful in agriculture.