Abstract
Brassinosteroids have been reported to accelerate plant growth when applied to seeds. We examined the effects of seed treatment with brassinolide on early growth of Lepidium sativum (cress). Submicromolar and micromolar concentrations of brassinolide inhibited root growth within 48 h after seed treatment. Germination of cress was not affected by brassinolide. The inhibition of cress root growth by brassinolide was time specific in terms of eliciting the response. Untreated germinated seeds transferred to filter paper moistened with brassinolide solution did not exhibit the same level of root inhibition as treated seeds. Brassinolide (2 μm) had no effect on ethylene levels, suggesting that at this concentration brassinolide is acting independently of ethylene to inhibit cress root elongation. Also, brassinolide had no effect on DNA synthesis within 24 h after seed treatment, but synthesis was reduced after 48 h. The results of this study illustrate a significant specific effect on very early cress root growth by seed treatment with brassinolide.
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Abbreviations
- BR:
-
brassinosteroid(s)
- SDS:
-
sodium dodecyl sulfate
- TCA:
-
trichloroacetic acid
- ACC:
-
1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid
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Jones-Held, S., VanDoren, M. & Lockwood, T. Brassinolide application to Lepidium sativum seeds and the effects on seedling growth. J Plant Growth Regul 15, 63–67 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00192933
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00192933