Agriculture, application brassinosteroids

Many experiments were performed with brassinosteroid for agricultural application. However, most of the results could not be repeated. The reasons for a lack of uniform success may be considered as follows ... 

Abscisic acid (ABA) levels in rice plants, 308,31Or levels in squash hypocotyls, 315/.316 Active component of brassins identification, 9,lQf pilot plant extraction, 6,7/,8 solvent partition and column chromatography, 8 Adventitious root(s) development, 233,234r,235 formation, 247 Agriculture, application of 24-epibrassinolide, 280-290 22-Aldehydes, synthesis of brassinosteroids, 47-50f a hormone function, description for brassins, 4... 

The original discovery of brassinolide, a natural plant-growth promoter extracted from bee-collected pollen, was made at the USDA Agricultural Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland. Although the USDA terminated brassinosteroid research, others around the world have carried on the work. This volume addresses the history, biochemistry, physiology, practical applications, production, synthesis, and entomological effects of these compounds. 

Some preliminary tests of brassinosteroids by the USDA Beltsville group suggested that brassinosteroids can be used for increasing food production (73). This early work led to extensive studies on effects of brassinosteroids on plant growth and application in agriculture which were carried out in Japan, due to the availability of brassinosteroids (14). A significant amount of epibrassinolide was provided vide supra for the field tests. The samples of brassinolide and 225,235-homobrassinolide were also supplied for field tests. The basic biological studies on brassinosteroids were started in Japan in 1980 and field tests for practical use have been undertaken since 1983. The results of these studies have been reviewed in Japanese articles (75). 

Brassinolide is known as the most potent compound for inducing plant growth promoting activity in various bioassay systems. Many researchers have attempted to demonstrate brassinosteroid application for agricultural use. However, test results have been disappointing in many cases under field conditions. Here, we discuss the capability and problems surrounding the potential practical uses of brassinosteroids. 

We know that brassinolide and the other brassinosteroids are novel plant growth regulators that contribute either to crop yield increases or to promotion of crop quality. How do we successfully exploit them for their use in commercial applications to agricultural productivity ... 

Bhardway R, Sharma I, Kanwar M, Handa N, Kapoor D (2012) Current scenario of application of brassinosteroids in human welfare. In Pereira-Netto AB (ed) Brassinosteroids practical applications in agriculture and human health. Bentham Science Publishers, Sharjah... 

Zhao YJ, Chen J (2003) Studies on physiological action and application of 24-epibrassinolide in agriculture. In Hayat S, Ahmad A (eds) Brassinosteroids bioactivity and crop productivity. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp 159-170... 

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