Interaction Between Melatonin and Other Signaling Molecules in Plants

Numerous studies have proven evidence that melatonin plays an important regulatory role in plant growth, development, and defense against various biotic and abiotic stresses. As well as melatonin, plant hormones and many second messengers, such as calcium (Ca2+), reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S), also play important roles in the regulation of various physiological processes in plants. In recent years, increasing studies have indicated that melatonin interacts with plant hormones and many second messengers to regulate multiple physiological processes. The role of melatonin in regulating seed germination involves abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellins (GA), Ca2+ signal, and H2O2; in regulating stomatal movement involves ABA, Ca2+, ROS, and H2S; in regulating rhizogenesis involves auxin, ROS, and NO; in regulating fruit ripening involves ethylene (ETH), ROS, and NO; in regulating plant senescence involves ABA, cytokinins (CKs), Ca2+, ROS, and NO; in regulating tolerance to abiotic stress involves CK, ABA, ETH, jasmonic acid (JA), and all secondary signals mentioned above; in regulating disease resistance involves ETH, JA, salicylic acid (SA), ROS, and NO. Plant hormones and the second messengers also interact with each other, forming complex regulatory networks, to regulate multiple physiological processes in plants.