Year: 2021 | Month: June | Volume 14 | Issue 2
Brassinosteroids Application Responses in Fruit Crops – A Review
Shashi K. Sharma
DOI:10.30954/0974-1712.02.2021.2
Abstract:
Brassinsteroids (BRs) are a class of novel plant hormones gaining importance as potential allies of agricultural development worldwide. Research findings on influences of exogenous BRs application on various aspects of growth and development like vegetative growth, flowering, fruit set, fruit growth, ripening, storage, and tolerance to various biotic and abiotic stresses in fruit plants’ have been reviewed and discussed. The molecular or biochemical aspects of BRs responses to modulate growth and productivity by activating or withholding enzymatic reaction of different biochemical pathways of fruit plants have been elaborated. BRs are involved in ripening and fruit quality development of climacteric and non-climacteric fruits; as per reports of many researchers, they improve fruit color, phenolics, anti-oxidant activities and post-harvest life of many fruits. Fruit cracking in litchi has been found to be significantly reduced due to BRs application. This group of plant hormones possess the capacity to negate genetoxicity and pesticidal residues in many horticultural crops; it reflects the extension of their uses in producing consumer-friendly fruits through BRs application. One of the biggest advantages of BRs application is controlling favorable plant responses under abiotic and biotic stresses; plants have been reported to manage these stresses through modifications in various gene expressions and physiological processes under the influence of the BRs. The need for in-depth studies has been speculated for optimizing the concentration of BRs application together with the standardization of critical stages for harnessing the benefit of quality orchard productivity under varied growing conditions.
© This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited
Highlights
- Brassinosteroids are a class of essential plant hormones regulating broad aspects of plant vegetative and reproductive development.
- Having an inextricable connection with germination, root, and shoot proliferation; they have been recognized to have potential in the promotion of plant propagation and nursery growth.
- Plant physiological functions and biomass production are influenced greatly by the BRs application hence modulation of several horticultural traits like flowering, fruit set, fruit growth and yield etc. of various fruit crops is possible.
- BRs can be exploited as potential orchard stress busters; they help the plants to maintain electrochemical gradient, ionic balance, and other stress-fighting attributes during stress.
- Woody fruit tree species need more attention for detailed research on harnessing benefits of BRs application for cost-effective orchard management.
Print This Article Email This Article to Your Friend
