Plant Melatonin: Supercharge Roots and Stress Tolerance in Hydroponics

Dr. Russell Sharp explains how melatonin — a molecule known for human sleep and stress regulation — is produced by plants and acts as a powerful antioxidant and growth regulator. In hydroponics it can enhance root growth, improve stress tolerance under high light or unstable conditions, delay leaf senescence, and support photosynthesis and secondary metabolite production. Applied as a foliar spray, seed priming, or added to nutrient solutions at micromolar concentrations, melatonin is water-soluble and allows precise dosing in soilless systems. Research shows benefits in crops like tomato and lettuce, with increased root-to-shoot ratios and higher antioxidant levels under stress. https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/ Russel Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Dun-Xian Tan — University of Texas Health Science Center Rakesh K. Singh — Banaras Hindu University Nasser Al-Aghbar — King Abdulaziz University Rajeev K. Varshney — International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) Chao Zhao — Nanjing Agricultural University Wei Wei — Zhejiang University Dun-Xian Tan — University of Texas Health Science Center Russel J. Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Sergiu F. Chivu — University of Bucharest Guang-Yu Chen — Zhejiang University Xing-Guo Lu — South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shuang-Qing Peng — South China Agricultural University Dun-Xian Tan — University of Texas Health Science Center Russel Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Wei Meng — Zhejiang University Natalia Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Chunhua Zhao — Nanjing Agricultural University Javier Martinez — University of Granada Ana Cano — University of Granada Russel J. Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Dun-Xian Tan — University of Texas Health Science Center Debabrata Chattopadhyay — Bose Institute Fanyue Meng — Zhejiang University Chao Zhao — Nanjing Agricultural University Bin Xu — Nanjing Agricultural University Wei Wei — Zhejiang University Maria Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Sergey Kvetnoy — Russian Academy of Sciences Jian-Kang Zhu — University of California, Riverside Chunhua Zhao — Nanjing Agricultural University Xiaohong Zhu — South China Botanical Garden Dun-Xian Tan — University of Texas Health Science Center Russel Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Iwona Zielenkiewicz — Polish Academy of Sciences Yali Zhang — Zhejiang University Fang Fang — Nanjing Agricultural University Xinyue Wang — South China Botanical Garden Sonia Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Gonzalo Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Javier Martinez — University of Granada Ana Cano — University of Granada Dun-Xian Tan — University of Texas Health Science Center Russel Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Yi Li — Zhejiang University Chunhua Zhao — Nanjing Agricultural University Wei Wei — Zhejiang University Dun-Xian Tan — University of Texas Health Science Center Russel J. Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Rajeev K. Varshney — ICRISAT Rafael Guerrero — University of Granada Juan Pablo Martínez — University of Granada Natalia Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Chunhua Zhao — Nanjing Agricultural University Wei Wei — Zhejiang University Dun-Xian Tan — University of Texas Health Science Center Russel Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Javier Martinez — University of Granada Ana Cano — University of Granada Chao Zhao — Nanjing Agricultural University Fang Fang — Nanjing Agricultural University Xinyue Wang — South China Botanical Garden Maria Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Sergey Kvetnoy — Russian Academy of Sciences Jian-Kang Zhu — University of California, Riverside Fanyue Meng — Zhejiang University Guang-Yu Chen — Zhejiang University Shuang-Qing Peng — South China Agricultural University Debabrata Chattopadhyay — Bose Institute Iwona Zielenkiewicz — Polish Academy of Sciences Yali Zhang — Zhejiang University Xiaohong Zhu — South China Botanical Garden Fang Fang — Nanjing Agricultural University Yi Li — Zhejiang University Rafael Guerrero — University of Granada Juan Pablo Martínez — University of Granada Russel Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Dun-Xian Tan — University of Texas Health Science Center Javier Martinez — University of Granada Ana Cano — University of Granada Natalia Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Maria Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Chao Zhao — Nanjing Agricultural University Wei Wei — Zhejiang University Chunhua Zhao — Nanjing Agricultural University Guang-Yu Chen — Zhejiang University Fanyue Meng — Zhejiang University Sergey Kvetnoy — Russian Academy of Sciences Jian-Kang Zhu — University of California, Riverside Debabrata Chattopadhyay — Bose Institute Iwona Zielenkiewicz — Polish Academy of Sciences Fang Fang — Nanjing Agricultural University Xinyue Wang — South China Botanical Garden Yi Li — Zhejiang University Rafael Guerrero — University of Granada Juan Pablo Martínez — University of Granada Russel Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Dun-Xian Tan — University of Texas Health Science Center Javier Martinez — University of Granada Ana Cano — University of Granada