Melatonin mitigates magnesium deficiency-induced chlorosis through enhancing photosynthetic efficiency and antioxidant capacity in wax gourd (Benincasa hispida).
Chang J, Tu P, Wu J, Ahmed N, Li J
Crop Improvement
PubMedIf the leaves on your squash or cucumber plants are turning yellow between the veins, magnesium deficiency may be the culprit — and this research suggests a melatonin spray could one day be a practical, low-cost fix to keep your garden productive.
Plants need magnesium to make chlorophyll, the green pigment that captures sunlight for energy. When soil magnesium runs low, leaves go yellow and the plant struggles to grow. Scientists found that spraying plants with melatonin — a natural hormone found in many living things — helped them absorb more magnesium, stay greener, photosynthesize better, and fight off the internal damage caused by nutrient stress.
Key Findings
Preventive melatonin treatment increased total magnesium content in wax gourd by 62.1% and boosted net photosynthetic rate by 61.0% compared to magnesium-deficient plants.
Both preventive and restorative melatonin applications reduced malondialdehyde (a marker of cell damage) by roughly 30–33%, indicating significantly lower oxidative stress.
Transcriptome analysis showed melatonin activated antioxidant and stress-response genes, with preventive treatment triggering earlier and stronger gene expression changes than restorative treatment.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Melatonin — yes, the same hormone that helps you sleep — can protect wax gourd plants from a common soil nutrient deficiency that causes leaves to yellow and yields to drop. When applied either before or after magnesium stress sets in, melatonin boosted the plant's ability to absorb magnesium, kept photosynthesis running efficiently, and dialed down cell damage.
Abstract Preview
Magnesium (Mg) deficiency is a major nutritional disorder that impairs chlorophyll biosynthesis, photosynthesis, and redox homeostasis, thereby limiting crop yield and quality. This study investiga...
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Benincasa hispida, the wax gourd, also called ash gourd, white gourd, winter gourd, winter melon, tallow gourd, ash pumpkin, dongah or Chinese preserving melon, is a species of vine.