Protection of growth in response to 28-homobrassinolide under the stress of cadmium and salinity in wheat

This study examines the impact of 28-homobrassinolide (HBL) in alleviating the effects of cadmium (Cd) and salinity (NaCl) on wheat plants solely and against the synergy. The surface sterilized seeds of Triticum aestivum cv. PBW-373 were sown in the soil amended either with salinity or cadmium or both. The foliage in was sprayed at 20 d after sowing (DAS) both in stressed and non-stressed plants. The spray of HBL at 20 DAS increased almost all the parameters while decreased the H2O2 content and lipid peroxidation in the leaves. The presence of cadmium and/or salinity decreased the values for all the growth and photosynthetic parameters but improved the activity of antioxidant enzymes and proline content in 30 d old plants. However, the ill effects observed under NaCl and/or Cd treatment were completely overcomed by the spray of HBL to the plants at 20 d stage. The spray of HBL to stressed plants further increased the antioxidant enzyme activities and proline content thereby giving tolerance to the plants against the stress.