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Abstract

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a novel group of plant growth regulators which regulate growth and development of plants. BRs application is also effective in ameliorating the adverse effects of abiotic stresses including salt stress. A pot experiment was conducted to assess the influence of exogenous application of BRs as a foliar spray on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth and pattern of nutrient accumulation under control or saline conditions. 24-epibrassinolide (24-epiBL) was foliarly applied @ 0 (water spray), 0.0125, 0.025, and 0.0375 mg L-1 on two wheat cultivars viz., S-24 and MH-97. Two salinity treatments 0 (control) and 150 mmol L-1 of NaCl were also applied in full strength Hoagland’s nutrient solution. Exogenous application of 24-epiBL increased plant biomass under both saline and non-saline conditions, but it had a non-significant effect on leaf Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Cl- contents or K+/Na+ ratios while in roots a similar pattern was observed but only for root K+ and K+/Na+ ratios. Overall, exogenous application of BRs as foliar spray improved growth of wheat plants under saline and non-saline conditions, but it did not have any prominent effect on accumulation of different mineral nutrients in the two cultivars examined.

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