The influence of brassinosteroid on growth and parameters of photosynthesis of wheat and mustard plants.

The growth response of wheat (Triticum aest. L.) and mustard seedlings (Sinapis alba L.) treated with 10(-6) mol · l(-1) brassinosteroid (BR) foliar spray was measured. BR-treatment resulted in a general promotion of plant growth. We found the accumulation of photosynthates to be stimulated in the treated plants, as indicated by enhanced fresh and dry weights of leaves and shoots. BR also promoted the synthesis of soluble proteins and soluble reducing sugars, whereas the chlorophyll content was hardly affected. CO(2)-fixation in vivo as well as the (in vitro) RubPC-ase activity of BR-treated leaves were enhanced. In the developing wheat leaves we detected no difference in the ratio fraction-I-protein (F-I-P)/total soluble protein between BR-treated and control plants whereas in the expanded leaves this ratio was lowered under BR-treatment.