Alleviation of Lead Toxicity Stress in Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) Cultivars by 24-Epibrassinolide

Author(s): Divya Sri Nandikonda and Seeta Ram Rao Sadhu*

Abstract: Lead toxicity stress substantially reduced the seedling growth of three cultivars of mustard (Brassica juncea L) viz, Maya, NRCDR-2 and NRCHB-101. However exogenous application of 24- Epibrassinolide (24-EBL) in a dose dependent manner reduced the impact of lead toxicity on the seedling growth of mustard cultivars. The toxicity alleviation impact of 24-EBL was found to be more on NRCDR-2 and minimal in case of NRCHB-101 cultivars. Supplementation of 24-EBL lowered the MDA content in the seedlings of all the three mustard cultivars indicating reduced membrane peroxidation. The negative of impact of lead toxicity on protein content in mustard seedling was found reduced by 24-EBL application. Further, the toxicity amelioration by 24-EBL was reflected in elevated free proline (osmoprotectant) content. Lead toxicity reduced the activity of catalase and increased the activity of peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. 24-EBL feeding caused steep rise in the activities of all the antioxidative enzymes in mustard seedlings growing under toxic levels of lead. The present study clearly demonstrated that 24-EBL remarkably mitigated lead toxicity stress in case of three mustard cultivars by activating antioxidative enzyme activity.

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