Melatonin as a Central Hub of Abiotic Stress Resilience in Tomato

Abstract

Climate change increasingly threatens tomato productivity by intensifying abiotic stresses. Recent studies recognize melatonin as a multifunctional regulator that integrates redox homeostasis, protected photosynthetic apparatus, root system architecture, ion homeostasis, and hormonal signaling networks. This Spotlight summarizes emerging evidence demonstrating that melatonin enhances tomato tolerance to abiotic stresses, highlighting key unresolved mechanistic questions as well as challenges related to translational applications.