Influence of Brassinosteroids on Pigment Content of Glycine max L. (Soybean) Grown in Dark and Light

Abstract

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are potent plant growth regulators of steroidal nature, of which first compound isolated from a natural source is brassinolide. They are involved in regulatory processes, which are more specific to plant growth, including photomorphogenesis and skotomorphogenesis. In this study the effect of a plant growth regulator (24-epiBL) on pigment biosynthesis was investigated in light and dark grown soybean seedlings. 10-5, 10-7 and 10-9 M concentrations of 24-epiBL were sprayed onto the aboveground parts of the seedlings which were kept both in light and dark in the growth chamber for 12 days. Then the seedlings were examined in terms of chlorophyll, carotenoid and anthocyanin contents in the hypocotyl, cotyledon and 1st internode. The data showed that exogenously applied epi-BL affects chlorophyll, carotenoid and anthocyanin production, and varied concentrations of
epi-BL result in different responds in plant parts, depending on light and dark factors.