A class of steroid hormones known as BRs or brassinosteroids are crucial for the growth and development of plants. The signalling mechanism of brassinosteroids encourages cell growth and division in addition to aiding in reproduction and etiolation.
Numerous plant taxa, including brown algae and monoplast freshwater algae, have been shown to produce brassinosteroids. Their distributions vary between various tissues within one species. The highest amount was discovered in pollens, immature seeds, roots and flowers. Additionally, different plant tissues vary in their distribution and concentration of brassinosteroids.
Role of Brassinosteroids
Brassinosteroids are plant hormones similar to auxin, cytokinin and gibberellins. They function similar to animal hormones and are essential for a variety of processes in plant biology, such as:
- Cell division
- Root growth
- Photomorphogenesis
- Cell elongation
- Seed germination
- Reproduction
- Immunity
- Stomatal and vascular differentiation
Brassinosteroids play a vital role in controlling plant responses to stress, including freezing, drought, salt, disease, heat and nutrient deprivation. They also play a role in regulating the metabolism of plant oxidative radicals, ethylene production and root gravitropic response.
Agricultural Significance
Brassinosteroids have the power to increase the yield and quality of horticultural crops and shield plants from a variety of environmental stresses. Brassinosteroids have the significant advantage of not having an adverse effect on the environment because of the way they naturally behave. Application of brassinosteroids would be preferable to pesticides because it is a natural plant-boosting substance and prevents the co-evolution of pests.
The use of brassinosteroids has been effective against a variety of conditions, including mildew on cucumber, Phytophthora infestans and viral infections.
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