Exploring Melatonin's Multifaceted Roles in Regulating Phytohormone Interactions During Plant Abiotic Stress Responses

Plants demonstrate a significant adaptability in growth and development, allowing adjustments to biochemical and physiological processes in response to various biotic and abiotic stressors. Adaptability is regulated by a dynamic network of phytohormonal interactions, which can either antagonize or synergize with one another. Among these, melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine; MET) has emerged as a crucial regulator of crop production and influences growth, morphogenesis, organ development, and stress mitigation. This review focuses on the role of MET in molecular interactions with other phytohormones under abiotic stress conditions. Despite previous studies acknowledging these interactions, a thorough investigation of how MET regulates abiotic stress responses with other hormones is lacking. This review aims to address this gap by examining recent research on the interactions of MET with other phytohormones and highlighting the relevant genes and proteins involved. The paper concludes with insights and recommendations for future research directions in plant biology.