Abstract
Abstract In our comprehensive meta‐analysis, we initially collected 177 publications focusing on the impact of melatonin on wheat. After meticulous screening, 40 published studies were selected, encompassing 558 observations for antioxidant enzymes, 312 for reactive oxygen species (ROS), and 92 for soluble biomolecules (soluble sugar and protein). This analysis revealed significant heterogeneity across studies (I 2 > 99% for enzymes, ROS, and soluble biomolecules) and notable publication bias, indicating the complexity and variability in the research field. Melatonin application generally increased antioxidant enzyme activities [superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX)] in wheat, particularly under stress conditions, such as high temperature and heavy‐metal exposure. Compared to control, melatonin application increased SOD, POD, CAT, and APX activities by 29.5, 16.96, 35.98, and 171.64%, respectively. Moreover, oxidative stress markers like hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), superoxide anion (O 2 ), and malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased with melatonin by 23.73, 13.64, and 21.91%, respectively, suggesting a reduction in oxidative stress. The analysis also highlighted melatonin's role in improving carbohydrate metabolism and antioxidant defenses. Melatonin showed an overall increase of 12.77% in soluble sugar content, and 22.76% in glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity compared to the control. However, the effects varied across different wheat varieties, environmental conditions, and application methods. Our study also uncovered complex relationships between antioxidant enzyme activities and H 2 O 2 levels, indicating a nuanced regulatory role of melatonin in oxidative stress responses. Our meta‐analysis demonstrates the significant role of melatonin in increasing wheat resilience to abiotic stressors, potentially through its regulatory impact on antioxidant defense systems and stress response.
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Claims 13
Claim · model-written summary
The included studies showed substantial heterogeneity across enzyme, ROS, and biomolecule outcomes.
- Taxon
- wheat
Triticum aestivumt0 - Outcome
- heterogeneity across studiese0
- Value
- I 2 > 99%e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“significant heterogeneity across studies (I 2 > 99% for enzymes, ROS, and soluble biomolecules)”
t0“wheat”
Claim · model-written summary
The meta-analysis found publication bias.
- Taxon
- wheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Outcome
- publication biase0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“notable publication bias”
t0“wheat”
Claim · model-written summary
Melatonin increased wheat SOD activity by 29.5%.
- Taxon
- wheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Treatment
- melatonin applicatione0
- Outcome
- SODe0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 29.5e0
- Comparator
- controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Compared to control, melatonin application increased SOD, POD, CAT, and APX activities by 29.5, 16.96, 35.98, and 171.64%, respectively”
t0“wheat”
Claim · model-written summary
Melatonin increased wheat POD activity by 16.96%.
- Taxon
- wheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Treatment
- melatonin applicatione0
- Outcome
- PODe0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 16.96e0
- Comparator
- controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Compared to control, melatonin application increased SOD, POD, CAT, and APX activities by 29.5, 16.96, 35.98, and 171.64%, respectively”
t0“wheat”
Claim · model-written summary
Melatonin increased wheat CAT activity by 35.98%.
- Taxon
- wheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Treatment
- melatonin applicatione0
- Outcome
- CATe0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 35.98e0
- Comparator
- controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Compared to control, melatonin application increased SOD, POD, CAT, and APX activities by 29.5, 16.96, 35.98, and 171.64%, respectively”
t0“wheat”
Claim · model-written summary
Melatonin increased wheat APX activity by 171.64%.
- Taxon
- wheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Treatment
- melatonin applicatione0
- Outcome
- APXe0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 171.64%e0
- Comparator
- controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Compared to control, melatonin application increased SOD, POD, CAT, and APX activities by 29.5, 16.96, 35.98, and 171.64%, respectively”
t0“wheat”
Claim · model-written summary
Melatonin reduced hydrogen peroxide by 23.73%.
- Taxon
- wheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Treatment
- melatonine0
- Outcome
- hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 )e0
- Direction
- decreasede0
- Value
- 23.73e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), superoxide anion (O 2 ), and malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased with melatonin by 23.73, 13.64, and 21.91%, respectively”
t0“wheat”
Claim · model-written summary
Melatonin reduced superoxide anion by 13.64%.
- Taxon
- wheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Treatment
- melatonine0
- Outcome
- superoxide anion (O 2 )e0
- Direction
- decreasede0
- Value
- 13.64e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), superoxide anion (O 2 ), and malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased with melatonin by 23.73, 13.64, and 21.91%, respectively”
t0“wheat”
Claim · model-written summary
Melatonin reduced malondialdehyde by 21.91%.
- Taxon
- wheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Treatment
- melatonine0
- Outcome
- malondialdehyde (MDA)e0
- Direction
- decreasede0
- Value
- 21.91%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), superoxide anion (O 2 ), and malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased with melatonin by 23.73, 13.64, and 21.91%, respectively”
t0“wheat”
Claim · model-written summary
Melatonin increased soluble sugar content by 12.77%.
- Taxon
- wheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Treatment
- Melatonine0
- Outcome
- soluble sugar contente0
- Direction
- increasee0
- Value
- 12.77%e0
- Comparator
- controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Melatonin showed an overall increase of 12.77% in soluble sugar content, and 22.76% in glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity compared to the control”
t0“wheat”
Claim · model-written summary
Melatonin increased GPX activity by 22.76%.
- Taxon
- wheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Treatment
- Melatonine0
- Outcome
- glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activitye0
- Direction
- increasee0
- Value
- 22.76%e0
- Comparator
- controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Melatonin showed an overall increase of 12.77% in soluble sugar content, and 22.76% in glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity compared to the control”
t0“wheat”
Claim · model-written summary
Melatonin effects varied by wheat variety, environmental conditions, and application method.
- Taxon
- wheatTriticum aestivume0
- Outcome
- effects varied across different wheat varieties, environmental conditions, and application methodse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the effects varied across different wheat varieties, environmental conditions, and application methods”
Claim · model-written summary
The meta-analysis identified complex relations between antioxidant enzyme activities and hydrogen peroxide levels.
- Taxon
- wheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Compound
- H 2 O 2e0
- Outcome
- antioxidant enzyme activitiese0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“complex relationships between antioxidant enzyme activities and H 2 O 2 levels”
t0“wheat”
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