Brassinosteroids and their role in response of plants to abiotic stresses

• DOI: 10.1007/s10535-013-0374-5
• Publication Date: 2013-10-25T07:54:11Z
• Authors: Q. Fariduddin; M. Yusuf; I. Ahmad; A. Ahmad
• Keywords: Senescence

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are polyhydroxylated steroidal plant hormones that play pivotal role in the regulation of various growth and development processes. BR biosynthetic or signaling mutants clearly indicate these steroids essential for regulating a variety physiological processes including cellular expansion proliferation, vascular differentiation, male fertility, timing senescence, leaf development. Moreover, BRs regulate expression hundreds genes, affect activity numerous metabolic pathways, help to control overall developmental programs leading morphogenesis. On other hand, potential application agriculture improve yield under stress conditions drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, heavy metal (Cd, Cu, Al, Ni) toxicity, is immense significance as stresses severely hamper normal metabolism plants. Keeping mind multifaceted BRs, an attempt has been made cover aspects mediated by particularly possible mechanism action also suggested.