Melatonin in fruit production and postharvest preservation: A review.

Melatonin (MLT) is a versatile biological signal that is involved in a number of plant processes, including germination, development, flowering, photosynthesis and defence. The need to develop new methodologies for enhancing crop yields and extending fruit postharvest preservation, together with the beneficial effects of dietary MLT, have stimulated the study of the availability and biological roles of MLT in fruit. Here, we are reviewing for the first time the effects of endogenous and exogenous MLT on fruit production and postharvest preservation. The signalling pathways implicated in MLT response and the applications of MLT in fruit decay, abiotic stress and pathogen infection have been traced in order to provide new insights on the biological significance of MLT in fruit.