Melatonin and auxin act synergistically to restore photosynthetic efficiency and redox homeostasis in copper-stressed Brassica juncea.

Combined application of melatonin and auxin significantly alleviates copper stress effects in Brassica juncea, restoring photosynthetic efficiency and redox homeostasis.

• Why it matters: Copper toxicity impairs plant growth by increasing oxidative stress and damaging chloroplasts, posing a challenge for crop productivity in contaminated environments.
• What they did: Researchers applied melatonin and indole-3-acetic acid to copper-stressed Brassica juncea plants, measuring physiological and biochemical traits, oxidative stress markers, and anatomical damage.
• The result: The combined treatment effectively improved all measured traits, maintained redox balance, reduced oxidative damage, and repaired anatomical damage, suggesting a synergistic role in enhancing crop resilience.