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Melatonin: a growth-stimulating compound present in lupin tissues

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Abstract

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxi-tryptamine), a well-known animal hormone synthetised by the pineal gland, plays a key role in the circadian rhythm of vertebrates. An exhaustive bibliographical revision of studies on melatonin in plants published since 1990 points to very few studies (around 20), of which only 8 have a clear plant physiological focus. The data presented in this study demonstrate that melatonin plays a physiological role in plant tissues. Melatonin is seen to be a molecule that promotes vegetative growth in etiolated Lupinus albus L. hypocotyls, in a similar way to IAA. The measurements of melatonin and IAA in lupin hypocotyls by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection, and their identification by tandem mass spectrometry, point to a different distribution of these molecules in etiolated hypocotyls.

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Fig. 1a–c
Fig. 2a,b

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Abbreviations

IAA:

Indole-3-acetic acid

MEL:

Melatonin

HPLC–EC:

High-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

MS/ESI+:

Tandem mass spectrometry in positive electrospray ionization mode

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the project MCyT-AGL2003-00638 and co-financed by FEDER. A.C. has a post-doctoral grant from the University of Murcia. J.H.R. has a contract with the University of Murcia. We thank Drs. J.A. Madrid and M.A. Rol of the Animal Physiology Department of the University of Murcia for their helpful comments and discussion on melatonin in general, especially in humans.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Physiology, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain

    Josefa Hernández-Ruiz, Antonio Cano & Marino B. Arnao

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  1. Josefa Hernández-Ruiz
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  2. Antonio Cano
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  3. Marino B. Arnao
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Correspondence to Marino B. Arnao.

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Hernández-Ruiz, J., Cano, A. & Arnao, M.B. Melatonin: a growth-stimulating compound present in lupin tissues. Planta 220, 140–144 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-004-1317-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-004-1317-3

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