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Brassinosteroids roles and applications: an up-date

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Abstract

Brassinosteroids are plant steroidal compounds involved in many functions related with plant development, metabolism, signalling and defense against a wide range of biotic and abiotic stresses. Plant architecture, which has a major effect on crop yield, is strongly influenced by brassinosteroids action. Brassinosteroids are recognized as key regulators of plant growth and development involved in a broad spectrum of processes at the molecular, cellular, and physiological levels. These roles suggest that many of the constraints of present agricultural production might be alleviated by manipulation of genetic determinants dealing with brassinosteroids, as well as by its exogenous application. Brassinosteroids are natural, nontoxic, non-genotoxic, biosafe, and eco-friendly, and can therefore be used in agriculture and horticulture to improve the growth, yields, quality, and tolerance of various plants to biotic and abiotic stresses. The present paper comprehensively reviews the latest results in the field of brassinosteroids and envisages future impacts in agriculture.

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Abbreviations

APX:

ascorbate peroxidase

BL:

brassinolide

BR:

brassinosteroid

BRs:

brassinosteroids

CT:

catalase

CS:

catasterone

EBL:

24-epibrassinolide

ET:

ethylene

GPX:

glutathione peroxidase

GR:

glutathione reductase

HBL:

28-homobrassinolide

JA:

jasmonic acid

MDHAR:

monodehydroascorbate reductase

POX:

guaicol peroxidase

SA:

salicylic acid

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Bioproductos, Centro de Estudios de Productos Naturales, Havana University, Zapata y G, CP 10400, Vedado, Havana, Cuba

    Yamilet Coll & Francisco Coll

  2. Departamento de Biología Aplicada, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Orihuela, Miguel Hernández University, Ctra. Beniel Km 3.2, 03312, Orihuela, Spain

    Asunción Amorós

  3. Plant Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba

    Merardo Pujol

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  1. Yamilet Coll
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  2. Francisco Coll
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  3. Asunción Amorós
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  4. Merardo Pujol
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Correspondence to Merardo Pujol.

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Coll, Y., Coll, F., Amorós, A. et al. Brassinosteroids roles and applications: an up-date. Biologia 70, 726–732 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1515/biolog-2015-0085

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