Melatonin: Signal Transduction Mechanisms and Defense Networks in Plants

Rahul Kumar Tiwari, PhD in Plant Pathology, is currently researching melatonin-mediated mitigation of soil and tuber-borne diseases and physiological disorders in crop plants. He has also worked on the signaling mechanisms of pathogens, pathogenomics, and the management of hemibiotrophic fungi. Additionally, he has explored the genetic diversity of pathogenic microbes in field and horticultural crops. His research interests also include various aspects of pathophysiological alterations in food crops under the influence of diverse biotic and abiotic stresses. He has published more than 40 articles in nationally and internationally reputed journals.

Milan Kumar Lal, PhD in Plant Physiology, focuses on abiotic stress and the nutritional aspects of potatoes and other starchy crops. He is an expert in the field of abiotic stress, such as heat, drought, salinity, and heavy metals. Additionally, he is researching the effects of biotic stresses such as fungi, viruses, and bacteria on plant physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses. He also specializes 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 starchy crop-based food products. His work has resulted in more than 90 publications in international peer-reviewed journals.

Ravinder Kumar, PhD, a Senior Scientist in Plant Pathology, has over 15 years of research experience in managing biotic and abiotic stresses in plants, particularly in potato biotechnology. His work includes the formulation of dsRNA for late blight, the development of transgenic lines with ToLCNDV resistance, and potato genetic resource management. He has developed several diagnostic tools, including uniplex/multiplex RT-PCR, real-time RT-PCR, LAMP, and RT-RPA protocols for the detection of potato pathogens, as well as the molecular characterization and genome sequencing of plant pathogens. He has published over 120 research papers, review articles in national and international peer-reviewed journals, training manuals, and book chapters. He has also edited institutional publications such as newsletters and annual reports. He has received several awards, including the IPA-Kaushalya Sikka Memorial Award, Chandra Prabha Singh Young Scientist Award, Young Scientist Associate Award, and best oral/poster awards from various scientific and professional societies.

Muhammad Ahsan Altaf completed his PhD at the School of Life Sciences at Hainan University, China. He is currently employed as a postdoctoral researcher in the College of Horticulture at Hainan University, China. He has published around 30 research articles in leading journals worldwide, many with high impact factors. His research interests focus on the physiological, biochemical, and molecular aspects of horticultural plants, especially solanaceous vegetable crops. He is actively engaged in investigating the role of melatonin in photosynthetic efficiency and mineral nutrient uptake from root to shoot under abiotic stress