Melatonin-Producing Microorganisms: A Rising Research Interest in Their Melatonin Biosynthesis and Effects on Crops

Author: mycolabadmin
9/22/2025
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Summary

Scientists are discovering that certain microorganisms like yeast, algae, and bacteria naturally produce melatonin, the same molecule that helps humans sleep. These melatonin-producing microbes could help farmers grow healthier crops by sharing their melatonin with plants and protecting them from stress like drought and disease. This discovery offers an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic melatonin and could make agriculture more sustainable as climate change poses increasing challenges.

Background

Melatonin is an important molecule with multiple physiological roles in animals and plants, and its microbial production could offer an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic melatonin. The global melatonin market reached 4000 tons in 2019 worth USD 1.3 billion, entirely dependent on synthetic chemicals. Melatonin-producing microorganisms (M-PMs) represent an emerging research area with potential agricultural applications.

Objective

This review comprehensively examines melatonin biosynthesis pathways in various microorganisms including yeast, algae, fungi, bacteria, and E. coli, and explores how microbial melatonin mediates plant-microbe interactions under stressful environments. The review aims to assess M-PMs as an untapped tool for sustainable agriculture and rhizospheric bioengineering.

Results

The review identifies differential melatonin biosynthesis pathways across microorganisms, with well-characterized pathways in yeast utilizing TDC, T5H, DDC, SNAT, COMT, and ASMT enzymes. Studies on Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Enterobacter sp. demonstrate that these bacteria increase endogenous melatonin content and exchange it with host plants, mitigating abiotic stresses through cellular damage modulation and hormonal regulation. Exogenous melatonin application enhances stress tolerance in microbes similarly to plants.

Conclusion

While melatonin-producing microorganisms show promise for sustainable agriculture, the field remains in preliminary stages with limited identification and underutilized ecological applications. Future research should focus on understanding melatonin exchange mechanisms between M-PMs and host plants, evaluating cost-effectiveness, and establishing practical rhizospheric bioengineering applications for enhanced crop production under climatic stress.

Published in:Journal of Pineal Research,
Study Type:Review,
Source: PMID: 40980957, DOI: 10.1111/jpi.70081