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

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.

• Ch 1. Evolution of melatonin as an oxidative stress mitigator in plant.- Ch 2. Melatonin-mediated drought stress mitigation by modulation of physiological and biochemical responses in plants.- Ch 3. Reprogramming of salt stress under the influence of melatonin.- Ch 4. Mechanistic insights on melatonin-mediated heat stress regulation in plant.- Ch 5. Melatonin a key regulator of cold stress in plants.- Ch 6. Illustrating recent development in melatonin-heavy metal research in plant.- Ch 7. Melatonin in Nutrient use efficiency of regulation in crop plants.- Ch 8. Melatonin-mediated signalling and regulation of viral and bacterial diseases.- Ch 9. Explicating the role of melatonin in the mitigation of fungal diseases in plants.- Ch 10. Role of melatonin in management of stress tolerance of forest tree species.- Ch 11. Emerging role of melatonin in integrated management of crop pathogens.- Ch 12. Exploring Melatonin's Potential as an Alternative Strategy for Protecting Plants from Biotic Stresses.