Drought is regarded as one of the environmental constraints threatening agriculture worldwide. Melatonin is a pleiotropic molecule prevalent in plants capable of promoting plant endogenous resilience to many environmental challenges including drought. Banana is an important staple food consumed in developing countries especially in Africa. In this research, we studied the role of melatonin in the growth of bananas subjected to drought under the Egyptian semi-arid conditions. To achieve this objective, a field experiment on banana (Musa spp., cv. Williams) mother plants and first ratoon was conducted on a private farm for two seasons - 2019 and 2020. Three irrigation treatments, 100, 90 and 80% irrigation water requirements (IWR) were used in conjunction with four concentrations of melatonin as a foliar spray (0 μmol, 40 μmol, 60 μmol, and 80 μmol) to determine the effect of both treatments on banana plant performance under drought. The results showed that there was a substantial difference between treatments, with the foliar application of melatonin at 80 μmol concentration improving most of the yield attributes, relative water content, total chlorophyll and proline with water deficit. However, the foliar application of the molecule lowered the biochemical characteristics mostly at 80% IWR under the Egyptian semi-arid conditions. Overall, there was a concentration-dependent response with regards to IWR for the two seasons 2019 and 2020.

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of estrus induction and fertility by using subcutaneous melatonin (MEL, T1) and short-term intravaginal medroxyprogesteronacetate plus pregnant mare serum gonadotropin treatments (sMAP+eCG, T2) in ewes on seasonaly anestrus. In this study, 105 mature clinically healthy Kivircik ewes in anestrus season and 4 rams were used. After synchronization applications, ewes exhibiting estrus signs were hand-mated with rams known to be fertile. Blood samples were collected at different times in order to determine progesterone (P4) concentrations. Results showed that estrus manipulation protocols induced significant improvement in pregnancy rate. All the fertility results obtained with the sMAP+eCG or MEL groups were similar, in seasonal anestrus. The efficacy duration of P4 in the MEL group was longer than that in short-term progestagen group. Plasma P4 concentrations was significantly different between the first (I) and last (III) measurement days (p<0.01). Increase in P4 concentration in T2 group was faster than that in T1 group, and blood P4 concentrations at higher levels could successfully be achieved by using any of the protocols in this study during the seasonal anestrus. In conclusion, according to the results obtained, the hormone application groups received very high estrus response. In addition, the twin ratio was found to be higher in T1 group compared to those determined in the other groups (T2 and Control group). Furthermore, plasma P4 concentrations and high birth rates were obtained in ewes in T1 and T2 groups. These procedures can be considered a good alternative to traditional procedures due to its flexibility under field conditions.

The role of catalase in resistance to boron toxicity after melatonin application (MEL) was investigated in Arabidopsis thaliana plants. Col-0 and cat2-2 plants were exposed to 50 μM MEL followed by boron toxicity (BT) in a medium containing 10 mM H ₃BO ₃. Pigment loss and accordingly chlorosis were reduced by melatonin under BT conditions, while they were more prominent in cat2-2 mutants. Moreover, TBARS and H ₂O ₂ contents, which increased due to BT, decreased as a result of melatonin application and the levels of these parameters in cat2-2 mutants were higher than the values in Col-0. Antioxidant enzyme activity of SOD and SOD1 gen transcript were induced by MEL under BT. Conversely, APX4, PER10 and CAT1 transcripts were down-regulated by MEL under BT. In addition, antioxidant enzyme activities and their transcript levels were lower than those of Col-0. Thus, we suggested that MEL scavenged ROS directly under BT. Melatonin also reduced the accumulation of boric acid in leaf tissues of Col-0, but not cat2-2. Finally, even though melatonin application provided a degree of endurance, the cat2 mutation resulted in increased sensitivity to BT.

To determine the role of the pineal gland and its secretory product melatonin on various aspects of the functioning of the organism, the gland can be easily surgically removed in rats within 18 hours a fter birth. We performed pinealectomy in rats in a state of deep hypothermia under an operating microscope, using a micro-suction device of our own construction. The rats were induced into a state of suspended animation by placing them in the freezing compartment at minus 20 Celsius degrees. The cessation of respiration and heart beat lasted for about 15 minutes. During that time the pinealectomy was performed. In some cases there was minor hemorrhage that was easily controlled. There were no major side effects or mortality following surgery. All rats recovered within 15 minutes after the end of the procedure. The pinealectomy procedure described in this study is simple, rapid, effective and safe, and can be easily performed with instruments commonly available in most laboratories.