Melatonin Uygulamalarının Süs Bitkilerinde Stres Toleransı, Bitki Gelişimi ve Vazo Ömrüne Etkileri

Öz

Melatonin, bitkilerde endojen olarak sentezlenen ve büyüme, gelişme, çimlenme, kök-sürgün gelişimi, üreme süreçleri ile meyve olgunlaşmasını düzenleyen çok yönlü bir moleküldür. Güçlü antioksidan özellikleri sayesinde bitkileri çevresel ve içsel kaynaklı oksidatif streslerden korumaktadır. Özellikle abiyotik stres faktörlerine karşı koruyucu etki göstermektedir. Kuraklık stresi altında antioksidan enzim aktivitelerini artırmakta, fotosentetik kapasiteyi iyileştirmekte ve osmotik dengenin korunmasını sağlamaktadır. Tuz stres koşullarında hücresel hasarı azaltarak, fotosentetik aktiviteyi koruyarak ve antioksidan savunma mekanizmalarını aktive ederek stresin olumsuz etkilerini hafifletmektedir. Sıcaklık stresi altında, termotoleransı artırarak hücre zarının bütünlüğünü korumakta ve oksidatif hasarı azaltmaktadır. Ağır metal stresinde ise antioksidan savunma sistemlerini aktive ederek reaktif oksijen türlerini temizlemekte ve bitkilerin antioksidan sistemlerini aktive ederek bitkilerin direncini artırmaktadır. Ayrıca, çiçeklenme sürecini düzenleyerek ve vazo ömrünü uzatarak bitkilerin estetik ve ticari değerini artırmaktadır. Bu özellikleriyle melatonin, tarımsal üretimde verimliliği ve kaliteyi artırma potansiyeli taşırken, modern bahçecilik uygulamalarında da önemli bir rol oynayabilmektedir. Ancak, melatonin uygulamalarının etkinliğinin bitki türüne, stres faktörüne ve uygulanan konsantrasyona bağlı olarak değişmesi, daha kapsamlı çalışmalara ihtiyaç duyulduğunu göstermektedir. Bu derlemede, melatoninin süs bitkilerinde abiyotik ve biyotik stres koşullarına etkileri, generatif ve vejetatif gelişim üzerine etkileri ve vazo ömrü üzerindeki rolü ele alınmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Süs bitkileri
• Melatonin
• Stres
• Vazo ömrü
• Çiçeklenme

Effects of Melatonin Applications on Stress Tolerance, Plant Growth and Vase Life of Ornamental Plants

Abstract

Melatonin is a versatile molecule that is synthesized endogenously in plants and regulates growth, development, germination, root and shoot development, reproductive processes and fruit ripening. Thanks to its strong antioxidant properties, it protects plants from environmental and endogenous oxidative stresses. It has a protective effect especially against abiotic stress factors. Under drought stress, it increases antioxidant enzyme activities, improves photosynthetic capacity and maintains osmotic balance. Under salt stress conditions, it alleviates the negative effects of stress by reducing cellular damage, maintaining photosynthetic activity and activating antioxidant defense mechanisms. Under heat stress, it protects the integrity of the cell membrane and reduces oxidative damage by increasing thermotolerance. Under heavy metal stress, it scavenges reactive oxygen species by activating antioxidant defense systems and increases plant resistance by activating antioxidant systems of plants. It also increases the aesthetic and commercial value of plants by regulating the flowering process and extending vase life. With these properties, melatonin has the potential to increase productivity and quality in agricultural production and may play an important role in modern horticultural applications. However, the fact that the efficacy of melatonin applications varies depending on the plant species, stress factor and concentration applied shows that more comprehensive studies are needed.

Keywords

• Ornamental plants
• Melatonin
• Stress
• Vase life
• Flowering

References

1. Arnao, M. B., Hernández-Ruiz, J., 2014. Melatonin: plant growth regulator and/or biostimulator during stress?. Trends in plant science, 19(12), 789-797.
2. Li, C., Tan, D. X., Liang, D., Chang, C., Jia, D., Ma, F., 2015. Melatonin mediates the regulation of ABA metabolism, free-radical scavenging, and stomatal behaviour in two Malus species under drought stress. Journal of Experimental Botany, 66(3), 669-680.
3. Hattori, A., Migitaka, H., Iigo, M., Itoh, M., Yamamoto, K., Ohtani- Kaneko, R., Hara, M., Suzuki, T., Reiter, R.J., 1995. Identification of melatonin in plants and its effects on plasma melatonin levels and binding to melatonin receptors in vertebrates. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology International 35, 627–634.
4. Lee, H.Y., Byeon, Y., Back, K., 2014. Melatonin as a signal molecule triggering defense responses against pathogen attack in Arabidopsis and tobacco. Journal of Pineal Research 57, 262–268.
5. Shi, H., Jiang, C., Ye, T., Tan, D.X., Reiter, R.J., Zhang, H., Liu, R., Chan, Z., 2015. Comparative physiological, metabolomic, and transcriptomic analyses reveal mechanisms of improved abiotic stress resistance in bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L). Pers.] by exogenous melatonin. Journal of Experimental Botany 66, 681–694.
6. Yin, L., Wang, P., Li, M., 2013. Exogenous melatonin improves Malus resistance to Marssonina apple blotch. Journal of Pineal Research 54, 426–434.
7. Byeon, Y., Lee, H.Y., Lee, K., Park, S., Back, K., 2014. Cellular localization and kinetics of the rice melatonin biosynthetic enzymes SNAT and ASMT. Journal of Pineal Research 56, 107–114.
8. Blum, A., 1986. Breeding crop varieties for stress environments, Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 2(3): 199- 237.

9. Erdoğan Bayram, S., 2018. Su stresi ve bitkilerde su stresine bağlı fizyolojik değişimler, Tralleis Elektronik Dergisi 3(2): 219-228.
10. Ahsan, M., Younis, A., Jamal, A., Alshaharni, M. O., Algopishi, U. B., Al-Andal, A., Akhtar, G., 2025. Melatonin induces drought stress tolerance by regulating the physiological mechanisms, antioxidant enzymes, and leaf structural modifications in Rosa centifolia L. Heliyon, 11(1).
11. Luo, Y., Hu, T., Huo, Y., Wang, L., Zhang, L., Yan, R., 2023. Effects of exogenous melatonin on chrysanthemum physiological characteristics and photosynthesis under drought stress. Horticulturae, 9(1), 106.
12. Mohammadi, M., Eghlima, G., Aghamir, F., Nezamdoost, D., Bagnazari, M., Bidabadi, S. S., 2024. Melatonin alleviates drought stress and increases lutein and zeaxanthin industrial pigments in African marigold by some physiological regulations. Industrial Crops and Products, 222, 120089.
13. Zhang, X., Ma, X., Hu, Y., Hu, Q., Wen, J., Chen, Y., Zheng, J., 2025. Effects of exogenous spraying of melatonin on the growth of Platycrater arguta under drought stress. Frontiers in Plant Science, 15, 1516302.
14. Eisa, E. A., Honfi, P., Tilly-Mándy, A., Mirmazloum, I., 2023. Exogenous Melatonin Application Induced Morpho-Physiological and Biochemical Regulations Conferring Salt Tolerance in Ranunculus asiaticus L. Horticulturae, 9(2), 228.
15. Muhammad, H. M. D., Naz, S., Ahmad, R., Ali, E., Anwar, M., Altaf, M. A., Abou Fayssal, S., 2024. Melatonin triggers salinity tolerance in pansy (Viola tricolor) by regulation of defense system. Journal of King Saud University-Science, 36(8), 103286.
16. Levitt, J., 1980. Response of plants to environmental stresses: chilling, freezing and high temperature stresses. Physiological Ecology: a series of monographs, texts and treatises, 1:23-64.
17. Mathur, S., Agrawal, D., Jajoo, A., 2014. Photosynthesis: response to high temperature stress. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 137:116-126.
18. Arnao, M. B., & Hernández-Ruiz, J.,2019. Melatonin: a new plant hormone and/or a plant master regulator?. Trends in Plant Science, 24(1), 38-48.
19. Zulfiqar, F., Moosa, A., Ali, H. M., Hancock, J. T., Yong, J. W. H., 2024. Synergistic interplay between melatonin and hydrogen sulfide enhances cadmium-induced oxidative stress resistance in stock (Matthiola incana L.). Plant Signaling & Behavior, 19(1), 2331357.
20. Zhou, D., Li, M., Wang, X., Li, H., Li, Z., Li, Q., 2024. Effects of exogenous melatonin on the growth and physiological characteristics of ginkgo biloba L. under salinity stress conditions. Horticulturae, 10(1), 89.
21. Xing, X., Ding, Y., Jin, J., Song, A., Chen, S., Chen, F., Jiang, J. 2021. Physiological and transcripts analyses reveal the mechanism by which melatonin alleviates heat stress in chrysanthemum seedlings. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12, 673236.
22. Elmongy, M.S., Abd El-Baset, M. M., 2024. Melatonin application induced physiological and molecular changes in carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) under heat stress. Horticulturae, 10(2), 122.
23. Khalid, M., Rehman, H.M., Ahmed, N., Nawaz, S., Saleem, F., Ahmad, S., Uzair, M., Rana I.A,, Atif, R.M., Zaman, Q.U 2022. Using exogenous melatonin, glutathione, proline, and glycine betaine treatments to combat abiotic stresses in crops. Int J Mol Sci 23:12913. https:// doi. org/ 10. 3390/ ijms2 32112 913.
24. Altaf, M.A., Shahid, R., Altaf, M.M., Kumar, R., Naz, S., Kumar, A., Alam, P., Tiwari R.K., Lal, M.K., Ahmad, P., 2022. Melatonin: first-line soldier in tomato under abiotic stress current and future perspective. Plant Physiol Bioch 185:188–197. https:// doi. org/ 10. 1016/j. plaphy. 2022. 06. 004.
25. Hasan, M.K., Ahammed, G.J., Yin, L., Shi, K., Xia, X., Zhou, Y., Yu, J., Zhou, J., 2015. Melatonin mitigates cadmium phytotoxicity through modulation of phytochelatins biosynthesis, vacuolar sequestration, and antioxidant potential in Solanum lycopersicum L. Front Plant Sci 6:601. https:// doi. org/ 10. 3389/ fpls. 2015. 00601.
26. Ni, J., Wang, Q., Shah, F.A., Liu, W., Wang, D., Huang, S., Fu, S., Wu, L., 2018. Exogenous melatonin confers cadmium tolerance by counterbalancing the hydrogen peroxide homeostasis in wheat seedlings. Molecules 23:799. https:// doi. org/ 10. 3390/ molec ules2 30407 99.
27. Zulfiqar, F., Moosa, A., Ali, H. M., Ferrante, A., Nazir, M. M., Makhzoum, A., Soliman, T. M., 2023. Preharvest melatonin application mitigates arsenic-induced oxidative stress and improves vase life of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) cut flowers. South African Journal of Botany, 163, 330-337.
28. Zulfiqar, F., Moosa, A., Ali, H. M., Hancock, J. T., Yong, J. W. H., 2024. Synergistic interplay between melatonin and hydrogen sulfide enhances cadmium-induced oxidative stress resistance in stock (Matthiola incana L.). Plant Signaling & Behavior, 19(1), 2331357.
29. Xing., X., Ding, Y., Jin, J., Song, A., Chen, S., Chen, F., Jiang, J., 2021. Physiological and transcripts analyses reveal the mechanism by which melatonin alleviates heat stress in chrysanthemum seedlings. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12, 673236.
30. Lezoul, N. E. H., Serrano, M., Ruiz-Aracil, M. C., Belkadi, M., Castillo, S., Valero, D., Guillén, F., 2022. Melatonin as a new postharvest treatment for increasing cut carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) vase life. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 184, 111759.
31. Mazrou., R. M., Hassan, S., Yang, M., Hassan, F. A., 2022. Melatonin preserves the postharvest quality of cut roses through enhancing the antioxidant system. Plants, 11(20), 2713.
32. Wang, Y., Liu, X., Sun, M., Zhu, W., Zheng, Y., Zhu, S., Yu, X., 2024. Melatonin enhances vase life and alters physiological responses in peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) cut flowers. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 212, 112896.
33. Hosseini, N., Jabbarzadeh, Z., Amiri, J., 2025. Eco-friendly Extension of Postharvest Longevity in Alstroemeria Cut Flowers Using Melatonin and Putrescine Treatments. Heliyon. 11(3).