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Functions and Prospects of Melatonin During Pre-fertilization Reproductive Stages in Plants

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Melatonin: Role in Plant Signaling, Growth and Stress Tolerance

Part of the book series: Plant in Challenging Environments ((PCE,volume 4))

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Abstract

In the last two decades, an exhaustive amount of research has shown that melatonin is a critical pleiotropic molecule, controlling several developmental and stress-related responses in plants. In this chapter, we discuss the current and potential uses of melatonin during pre-fertilization reproductive stages, with particular emphasis on its involvement in regulating flowering and flower development as well as adaptation of reproductive stages to environmental stresses. Recent evidence indicates that melatonin delays the transition of floral meristem and, thereby, flowering time. It has been proposed that it plays a protective role during the development of flowers particularly male gametophyte development through its antioxidant activity. Recent studies also show that melatonin functions in the production of volatiles in flowers and the induction of parthenocarpy through cooperation with other phytohormones. Finally, melatonin can alleviate the effects of various abiotic stresses during flowering, including high temperature, chilling, and drought. The encouraging results obtained from the various studies point towards diverse roles of melatonin during pre-fertilization reproductive stages and also highlight the enormous potential of melatonin in improving plant performance under stressful environmental conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Vidyasagar Metropolitan College, University of Calcutta, Calcutta, India

    Priyanka Khanduri

  2. Department of Botany, Charuchandra College, University of Calcutta, Calcutta, India

    Sudip Kumar Roy

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  1. Priyanka Khanduri
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  2. Sudip Kumar Roy
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Jangipur College, Department of Botany, University of Kalyani, Jangipur, India

    Soumya Mukherjee

  2. CSIC, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Granada, Granada, Spain

    Francisco J. Corpas

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Khanduri, P., Roy, S.K. (2023). Functions and Prospects of Melatonin During Pre-fertilization Reproductive Stages in Plants. In: Mukherjee, S., Corpas, F.J. (eds) Melatonin: Role in Plant Signaling, Growth and Stress Tolerance. Plant in Challenging Environments, vol 4. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-40173-2_7

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