The mode of action of agrochemicals on plants implies the totality of their
effect on plant metabolism, growth and development. The effects of different
doses of 24-epibrassinolide (24-EBL) as a class of brassinosteroid
phytohormones on growth and other physiological processes in maize plants
during different development stages are reviewed in order to assess the
influence of these agrochemicals on various factors determining the yield of
maize as an important agricultural crop. In addition, several examples are
given of the effects of these phytohormones on other crops, fruits and
vegetables, in terms of their effect on yield, yield quality, and increase
in crop resistance to some types of stress. Own results are discussed in the
context of other literature data. Abbreviations: 24-EBL: 24-epibrassinolide;
BRs: brassinosteroids; PCZ: propiconazole; Chl a: chlorophyl a; RFW (g g-1):
relative fresh weight of different organs (R: radicle; P: plumule; RoS: rest
of seed); TDW, TFW (g): total dry and fresh weight of plants; V root (ml):
root volume; LMR, RMR, SMR (g g-1): relative dry weight of plant parts
(leaves, roots, stem); dH (J mol-1 K-1): differential enthalpy of different
parts (R: radicle; P: plumule; RoS: rest of seed) of 25 maize seedlings
exposed to T(reatments) of different molar concentrations of 24-EBL; ?G105
(J mol-1 K-1) differential Gibbs free energy of total maize plant and their
parts (R: roots; L: leaves; S: stem) assesed at 105 0C; ZP434, ZP704, ZP505:
maize hybrids; Fv/Fm, , Fv/F0, ??S2, qP, NPQ, RFD730 (all in relative
units), ETR (?mol electrons m-2 s-1): different Chl a fluorescence
parameters; Pphy, Pi: phosphorus bond to phytic acid and free phosphorus
available to many cellular biochemical reactions; GSH: reduced form of
gluthathyone; K, Ca, Fe, Mg, Zn, Si: different chemical elements.