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Studies on Physiological Action and Application of 24-Epibrassinolide in Agriculture

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Brassinosteroids

Abstract

EpiBL showed strong activity of stimulating the growth of root explants from tobacco seedlings at low concentration as compared with other known plant hormones. Rootlet number of explants incubated on MS medium containing 0.01–0.05 ppm EpiBL was apparently increased. Arabidopsis thaliana has been used to investigate the role of EpiBL in cell differentiation and regeneration in vitro. The result showed that calli cultured on MS medium supplemented with 0.05, 0.5 or 5.0 mg /l EpiBL formed much green buds and shoots. Supplementing the culture medium with EpiBL and 0.1mg /l KT induced the greening of callus and bud formation, but KT alone did not induce differentiation. Moreover, electron microscopic examination showed that normal chloroplasts are contained in the cells of green callus, cultured on medium supplemented with EpiBL.Using detached cucumber cotyledons, we found that EpiBL accelerated destruction of chloroplasts in cotyledon. The results also showed that EpiBL promoted senescence in mung bean seedling, accompanied by enhanced peroxidase activity and malondialdehyde and decreased the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase. The comparison of the ultrastructure of cells, in elongating region of treated hypocotyl segments, with those of control indicated that EpiBL exhibited retarding action in the maintenance of various organelles, against deterioration. The morphological examination demonstrated that the promoting effect of EpiBL on stem growth was mainly due to the stimulation of cell elongation. Using 3H labeled H2O, the promoting effect of EpiBL on water absorption was found. EpiBL also has been shown to affect the fatty acid composition of membrane lipid of tissues in mung bean hypocotyls. BRs resemble with cytokinins in regulating de-etiolation as positive regulators, and that the inhibition of hypocotyl elongation and the development of leaves and epicotyls in de-etiolation are independent processes. In China, large-scale field trials, over 10 years, have demonstrated that significant effect of EpiBL on the production of crops is caused partially by the improved tolerance against environmental stress. In Henan Province, treatment with EpiBL during booting stage or flower stage resulted in increase in wheat yield due to promoted flower development and reduced the abortion of grains. Spike weight and thousand weight were increased as compared to the control. Sprayed on wheat leaves also increased resistance against leaf wilt, one of the most harmful diseases induced by environmental stresses, during ripening. EpiBL decreased cold injury in rape plants during winter. It reduced kernel abortion at the tips of corn ears and the abscission of grape fruits. EpiBL promoted growth of the root system in tobacco plants, thus increasing tolerance against water stress. The results also show that EpiBL is useful for the improvement of yield and quality of the watermelon, grape and summer orange. Spraying EpiBL on leaves also increased the contents of sugar in beet plants. Vegetables applied with EpiBL grew better than the control. EpiBL reduced the abscission of cotton bolls and fruits of grapes. In general, the effects of epibrassinolide varied between diverse areas and also during different years, due to changing environmental conditions. New brassinosteroid (TS303) has been synthesized with enduring effects. Soaking of seeds of rape and barley, with TS303 solution, the yields was increased, but in rice the growth of seedling, at early stage, was promoted without an effect on grain yield. Foliar application of TS303 also promoted the growth of vegetables.

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Zhao, Y.J., Chen, JC. (2003). Studies on Physiological Action and Application of 24-Epibrassinolide in Agriculture. In: Hayat, S., Ahmad, A. (eds) Brassinosteroids. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0948-4_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0948-4_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

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