In plants, melatonin, nitric oxide (NO), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) can function as signaling molecules. Both the exogenous application and endogenous production of these molecules have prominent effects on plant growth and development, altering flowering and fruiting, maturation and senescence, ripening and storage, and the responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. These three compounds can act by regulating the metabolism of phytohormones and the redox state of biological systems, thus ensuring healthy plant growth, improving the quality of plant products, and reducing economic losses. Not only do plant tissues make and respond to melatonin, NO, and H2S, but the levels of production and signaling of these molecules are affected by biotic and abiotic factors. Furthermore, the individual melatonin, NO, and H2S signaling pathways appear to interact with one another to jointly regulate many physiological processes. New strives to elucidate the signaling and response pathways of these growth regulators and the crosstalk between the three have the potential to enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that protect plants against biotic or abiotic stresses or regulate plant health during growth, fruit ripening, and postharvest storage.
While significant advances have been made over the past few decades in our understanding of the metabolism pathways of melatonin, NO, and H2S in plants, the complex signaling networks regulated by these molecules are only beginning to be unraveled. Modulation of plant melatonin, NO, and H2S levels and signaling has tremendous potential both from the basic plant science and crop protection perspectives.
The goal of this Research Topic is to highlight the latest discoveries in the area of signaling and crosstalk between melatonin, NO, and H2S in plants, including (but not limited to) the work on the generation and scavenging of these molecules, their role in the response to biotic or abiotic stresses, and in regulating senescence, ripening and postharvest physiology.
We welcome submissions of different types of manuscripts including Original Research, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, and Hypothesis and Theory that showcase the latest insights into the roles of melatonin, NO, and H2S in regulating diverse aspects of plant biology in both species of agronomic interest and in model organisms. Examples of potential areas include, but are not limited to:
• Physiological changes caused by exogenous or endogenous melatonin, NO, or H2S during plant development, from seed germination to senescence including fruit ripening.
• The generation and scavenging systems of melatonin, NO, or H2S in plants in normal conditions or under stress.
• The signaling and/or the crosstalk of these molecules in regulating senescence, ripening and postharvest biology.
• The redox state and secondary metabolism regulated by melatonin, NO, or H2S in plants.
• Post-translational modifications in proteins triggered by melatonin, NO, or H2S.
• Transcriptomic and metabolomic studies of melatonin, NO, or H2S treatments that provide novel mechanistic insights into the molecular processes triggered by these growth regulators.
In plants, melatonin, nitric oxide (NO), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) can function as signaling molecules. Both the exogenous application and endogenous production of these molecules have prominent effects on plant growth and development, altering flowering and fruiting, maturation and senescence, ripening and storage, and the responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. These three compounds can act by regulating the metabolism of phytohormones and the redox state of biological systems, thus ensuring healthy plant growth, improving the quality of plant products, and reducing economic losses. Not only do plant tissues make and respond to melatonin, NO, and H2S, but the levels of production and signaling of these molecules are affected by biotic and abiotic factors. Furthermore, the individual melatonin, NO, and H2S signaling pathways appear to interact with one another to jointly regulate many physiological processes. New strives to elucidate the signaling and response pathways of these growth regulators and the crosstalk between the three have the potential to enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that protect plants against biotic or abiotic stresses or regulate plant health during growth, fruit ripening, and postharvest storage.
While significant advances have been made over the past few decades in our understanding of the metabolism pathways of melatonin, NO, and H2S in plants, the complex signaling networks regulated by these molecules are only beginning to be unraveled. Modulation of plant melatonin, NO, and H2S levels and signaling has tremendous potential both from the basic plant science and crop protection perspectives.
The goal of this Research Topic is to highlight the latest discoveries in the area of signaling and crosstalk between melatonin, NO, and H2S in plants, including (but not limited to) the work on the generation and scavenging of these molecules, their role in the response to biotic or abiotic stresses, and in regulating senescence, ripening and postharvest physiology.
We welcome submissions of different types of manuscripts including Original Research, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, and Hypothesis and Theory that showcase the latest insights into the roles of melatonin, NO, and H2S in regulating diverse aspects of plant biology in both species of agronomic interest and in model organisms. Examples of potential areas include, but are not limited to:
• Physiological changes caused by exogenous or endogenous melatonin, NO, or H2S during plant development, from seed germination to senescence including fruit ripening.
• The generation and scavenging systems of melatonin, NO, or H2S in plants in normal conditions or under stress.
• The signaling and/or the crosstalk of these molecules in regulating senescence, ripening and postharvest biology.
• The redox state and secondary metabolism regulated by melatonin, NO, or H2S in plants.
• Post-translational modifications in proteins triggered by melatonin, NO, or H2S.
• Transcriptomic and metabolomic studies of melatonin, NO, or H2S treatments that provide novel mechanistic insights into the molecular processes triggered by these growth regulators.
