Melatonin is emerging as a pivotal molecule in plant physiology, acting both as an antioxidant and a regulatory signal. Its capacity to mitigate oxidative stress plays a crucial role in protecting ...

When that happens, plants naturally produce hydrogen peroxide, which researchers say “serves as an indicator of acute stress.” This signals plant cells to activate a variety of defense mechanisms.

How plants protect themselves from oxidative stress during iron uptake -- and why this is also important for humans Biology, chemistry and medicine: Interdisciplinary publication in Plant ...

A leaf-mounted sensor measures plant hormone levels in real time, offering insights into plant health and potential for early disease or stress detection in agriculture. Credit: 2025 KAUST.

Plants make popping sounds that are undetectable to the human ear, according to recordings made in a new study — and they make more sounds when thirsty or under other kinds of stress.

“Plant hormones are genuinely important for plant growth and development, but also very critical for how plants respond to stress,” she said. So is autophagy, another well-known process that describes ...