Melatonin in Plants: A Pleiotropic Molecule for Abiotic Stresses and Pathogen Infection

Ravinder Kumar · Muhammad Ahsan Altaf · Milan Kumar Lal · Rahul Kumar Tiwari

Jan 2024 · Springer Nature

About this ebook

This edited book highlights the multifunctional role of the ubiquitous molecule, melatonin in crop plants. The major focus of this edition is to provide a comprehensive insight into the key focus is on Melatonin mediated alleviation of abiotic stresses and pathogens infection. The inception of melatonin as an animal hormone and the subsequent discovery of its multifaceted function in the animal system has revolutionized the research on this penial hormone. During the last decade, the discovery, quantification and functional studies of melatonin as phytohormone has emerged at a rapid pace. Recently, this phyto-protectant has become an integral component of lab and field-based research on the mitigation of adverse effects of climate-driven abiotic stresses and postharvest biology and technology.The book explores melatonin mediated management of various abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, heat and cold temperature. The book also focuses on role of melatonin in heavy metal stress, viral, bacterial, and fungal diseases, and, also contains chapter on melatonin facilitated nutrient use efficiency in plants.

This book is of interest to postharvest industries, horticulturists, scientists, researchers, and students.

About the author

Dr. Ravinder Kumar, Ph.D., Senior Scientist (Plant Pathology), ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India has over 15 years of research experience on biotic and abiotic stresses management in plants, potato biotechnology particularly formulation of dsRNA for late blight, development of transgenic lines with ToLCNDV resistance, potato genetic resource management, developed several diagnostic tools like uniplex/multiplex RT-PCR, real-time RT-PCR, LAMP, and RT-RPA protocols for the detection of potato pathogens, molecular characterization and genome sequencing of plant pathogens. He has published over 120 research papers/reviews articles in national/international peer reviewed journals, training manuals and book chapters, edited Institute publications like newsletters and annual reports. He is the recipient of Awards like IPA-Kaushalya Sikka Memorial Award, IPA-Chandra Prabha Singh Young Scientist Award, Young Scientist Associate award, best oral/poster awards of different scientific professional societies. He is a member of editorial board in 10 international journals and Guest associate editor for many reputed International journals.

Dr. Muhammad Ahsan Altaf completed his Ph.D. from the School of Life Science at Hainan University, China. He is currently employed as a postdoctoral researcher in the College of Horticulture, Hainan University, China. He has published around 50 research articles in top leading journals of the world, having high impact factor. His research interests are focused on the physiological, biochemical, and molecular aspects of horticultural plants, especially solanaceous vegetable crops. Dr. Altaf is actively engaged in investigating the role of melatonin in photosynthetic efficiency and mineral nutrient uptake from root to shoot under abiotic stress conditions.

Dr. Milan Kumar Lal, Doctor in Plant Physiology, working in the area of abiotic, abiotic stress and nutritional aspect of potato and other starchy crops at ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, India. He is an expert worker in the area of abiotic stress such as heat, drought salinity and heavy metal. Moreover, he is also working on the aspect of effect of biotic stress such as fungus, virus and bacteria on plant physiological, biochemical and molecular responses. Apart from this, he also has expertise in the nutritional and quality aspects of starchy crops, including resistant starch, glycemic index, phytonutrients, functional fermented foods and beverages, bioactive compounds, and various processing techniques to enhance these components in food products of starchy crops. He is the recipient of prestigious awards such as the Best PhD Thesis Award, PhD Merit Medal Award, Young Researcher Award, RD Asana Gold Medal Award. His findings have generated more than 120 publications in the international peer-reviewed journal.

Dr. Rahul Kumar Tiwari, Doctor in Plant Pathology, works as a scientist at ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute Shimla, India. The research work of Dr Tiwari is focused on management of crop diseases, abiotic stress mitigation in horticultural crops, and the role of phytohormones in plant defense. His recent research findings on the impact of Fusarium dry rot disease on potatoes provide critical information on the pathogen, its genomics, and potential management strategies. Moreover, Dr Tiwari's research on the development of one-step reverse transcription recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) assays for the detection of potato viruses has the potential to contribute significantly to the development of disease-free potato seed certification programs. Dr Rahul Kumar Tiwari's exceptional research work has been widely recognized and awarded, including the IARI Gold Medal Award for his outstanding Ph.D. research work, and the Young Scientist Award. He has authored over 80 publications in highly acclaimed international and national peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, newsletters, and popular articles.