Brassinosteroids treatment to Brassica juncea L. plants under Copper metal stress affects sugar and lipid metabolism.

Harpreet Kaur^a, Dhriti Kapoor^a, Poonam^a, Sukhmeen Kaur Kohli^a, Ashwani Kumar Thukral^a & Renu Bhardwaj^a*
^aDepartment of Botanical & Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab-143005, India.

Received 30th July, 2013; Revised 25th August, 2013

Abstract : Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a class of polyhydroxysteroids and have been reported to counteract both abiotic and biotic stresses in plants. We studied the ameliorative effect of 24-Epibrassinolide (24-EpiBr) on Brassica juncea L. under copper (Cu) metal stress. Growth parameters, sugars and lipids classes were analysed. In most of the cases these parameters were increased by 24-EpiBr in Cu stressed plants and the stress was ameliorated. So, 24-EpiBr treatment can be used to increase the plant survival and yield in Cu rich soils. 24-EpiBr has good future prospects as it can play a significant role in enhancing plant production and protection in Cu contaminated soil.

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