Evidence mapPaperPMID 42255290Full record

ReviewFrontiers in plant science2026

Phytomelatonin as a key regulator of drought stress adaptation: signaling networks, microbial interactions, and biotechnological potential.

Namo Dubey, Shubhangi Shree, Sneha Prakash, Vaishnavi Subramanian, Syama H P, Subhash Kumar

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In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in plant science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Namo DubeySchool of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Shubhangi ShreeSchool of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Sneha PrakashSchool of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Vaishnavi SubramanianSchool of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Syama H PDepartment of Integrative Biology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Subhash KumarDepartment of Bio Medical Sciences, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The impact of drought stress has remained a major problem that affects crop yield, growth, and development worldwide. There is increasing research interest showing that phytomelatonin acts as an integrative regulator that enhances plant tolerance to drought. Phytomelatonin, which is a potent antioxidant, acts by scavenging the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants but its role in drought tolerance is greater than antioxidation. It is of key importance for several physiological and developmental processes involved in plant survival, including seed germination, root development, and leaf senescence. The various pathways in which phytomelatonin mediate drought tolerance are multifaceted and involve molecular mechanisms of signaling. These pathways involve interactions with membrane-bound receptor proteins, notably phytomelatonin receptor 1 (PMTR1), the activation of downstream signaling components like mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades, and various transcription factors that regulate gene expression in response to stress. In this review the molecular mechanisms of phytomelatonin treatment under drought stress have been explored. In addition, it explores innovative approaches to enhance the precision of genetic and metabolic engineering strategies through the application of melatonin, aiming to improve drought tolerance of plants in a comprehensive manner. Melatonin-mediated resistance to drought, partly through activation of plant-associated microbial communities, shows promising effects. However, the underlying mechanisms of how melatonin influences these microbial communities under drought stress remain poorly understood. This review consolidates the research conducted on melatonin, emphasizing this developing field of study. Additionally, it underscores the significance of melatonin's interactions with other phytohormones in facilitating adaptation to drought conditions, aiming to enhance its regulatory functions. Drawing from the aforementioned developments, this review provides a summary of recent advances to systematically explore the impact of melatonin on drought tolerance and describes research directions to improve the understanding of its various implications and applications in sustainable agricultural systems in drought-affected regions.

Indexed as

droughtmetabolic engineeringphytohormonephytomelatoninplant growth

Identifiers

PMID42255290
PMCPMC13233233

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.