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INFLUENCE  OF  EXOGENOUS  APPLICATION  OF BRASSINOSTEROID ON GROWTH AND MINERAL NUTRIENTS OF WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.) UNDER SALINE CONDITIONS

MUHAMMAD SHAHBAZ AND MUHAMMAD ASHRAF

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.

Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan