How Melatonin Helps Rhododendrons Cope with Cadmium Pollution

Rhododendrons, especially Rhododendron simsii ( R. simsii), can face serious trouble due to heavy metal pollution. One such metal, cadmium (Cd), is particularly harmful to these plants. Cd can mess with their growth and how they perform photosynthesis. Not much is known about how rhododendrons handle this stress, so researchers looked into it. They found that melatonin, a substance that's naturally produced in plants, can help a lot when given from outside (exogenous). This melatonin boosts photosynthesis by improving how the plant's leaves process light and protects parts of the plant cells that handle this process. It also fights against oxidative stress caused by Cd, keeping the plant healthier. By doing all this, melatonin helps rhododendrons become more tolerant to cadmium pollution.