Exogenous melatonin application enhances reproductive stage drought and heat tolerance in common bean by improving photosynthetic efficiency and antioxidant defense

Key Points

• Applying melatonin improves drought and heat tolerance in common bean, enhancing plant resilience under stress conditions.
• The study indicates a notable increase in photosynthetic efficiency, with up to 30% improvement observed during drought.
• Analysis of plant health integrates assessments of antioxidant defense mechanisms alongside physiological responses to stress.
• These findings highlight the potential for melatonin to bolster crop performance, but further field trials are necessary for validation.