ABSTRACT

Global climate changes cause extreme temperatures and a significant reduction in crop production, leading to food insecurity worldwide. Temperature extremes (including both heat and cold stresses) is one of the most limiting factors in plant growth and development and severely affect plant physiology, biochemical, and molecular processes. Biostimulants like melatonin (MET) have a multifunctional role that acts as a “defense molecule” to safeguard plants against the noxious effects of temperature stress. MET treatment improves plant growth and temperature tolerance by improving several defense mechanisms. Current research also suggests that MET interacts with other molecules, like phytohormones and gaseous molecules, which greatly supports plant adaptation to temperature stress. Genetic engineering via overexpression or CRISPR/Cas system of MET biosynthetic genes uplifts the MET levels in transgenic plants and enhances temperature stress tolerance. This review highlights the critical role of MET in plant production and tolerance against temperature stress. We have documented how MET interacts with other molecules to alleviate temperature stress. MET-mediated molecular breeding would be great potential in helping the adverse effects of temperature stress by creating transgenic plants.

摘要

全球气候变化导致极端气温和作物产量大幅下降，导致全球粮食不安全。极端温度（包括热胁迫和冷胁迫）是植物生长发育的最大限制因素之一，严重影响植物生理、生化和分子过程。褪黑激素 (MET) 等生物刺激剂具有多功能作用，可作为“防御分子”保护植物免受温度胁迫的有害影响。MET 处理通过改善几种防御机制来改善植物生长和温度耐受性。目前的研究还表明，MET 与其他分子相互作用，如植物激素和气态分子，这极大地支持了植物对温度胁迫的适应。通过 MET 生物合成基因的过表达或 CRISPR/Cas 系统进行的基因工程提高了转基因植物中的 MET 水平并增强了温度胁迫耐受性。这篇综述强调了 MET 在植物生产和对温度胁迫的耐受性中的关键作用。我们已经记录了 MET 如何与其他分子相互作用以减轻温度压力。MET介导的分子育种将在通过创造转基因植物来帮助温度胁迫的不利影响方面具有巨大潜力。