FOLIAR FOLIAR APPLICATION OF BRASSINOSTEROIDS ENHANCES GROWTH, PIGMENT LEVEL AND BIOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF VIGNA UNGUICULATA UNDER UV-B RADIATION.APPLICATION OF BRASSINOSTEROIDS ENHANCES GROWTH, PIGMENT LEVEL AND BIOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

The impact of short-term UV-B radiation on growth, pigment composition and photosynthetic activities was studied in Vigna unguiculata. UV-B exposure for 3 days/ 15 min at 5 W.m-2 resulted in degreases the changes on the morphology as well as physiological characteristics. Brassinosteroid (BR) is the endogenous plant growth regulator involved in various physiological processes of plant growth and development. In the present experiment, an attempt has been made to understand the BR induced responses in Vigna seedlings. Application of BR at 1?M and1.5μM significantly enhanced the rate of morphology, photosynthetic and anti-oxidant enzyme activities to a level of 15% to 25% respectively. The UVB treated seedlings were treated with foliar application of BR at 1.0 μM concentration was ameliorative the UVB effects in different growth stages of Vigna seedlings.