ReviewPractical applications of brassinosteroids in horticulture-Some field perspectives

- Brassinosteroids (BS) are a class of steroidal plant hormones which are highly stable and environment friendly.
- They are involved in a wide range of physiological and biochemical responses in plants.
- Their role in the increase in productivity of agricultural and oil seed crops is well established.
- They also play an important role in improving the quantity and quantity of various vegetables and fruit crops, which are presented in this article.

Brassinosteroids (BS) are a class of polyhydroxylated steroidal plant hormones. They are of ubiquitous occurrence in plant kingdom and are implicated in a wide range of physiological, biochemical and molecular responses in plants, such as seed germination, cell division and elongation, vascular differentiation, photomorphogenesis, photosynthesis, enzyme activation and senescence. They have also been found to protect plants from various abiotic and biotic stress factors, such as salt, temperature, water, heavy metals and pathogens. BS also enhance the yield of several cereal, legume, and oil seed crops. Moreover, they also increase the fruit production and quality of the fruits, in different plants of horticultural importance. The number of such reports is comparatively lesser, yet an attempt has been made to review such studies and is presented here, comprehensively.