Effect of Brassinolide on the Growth of Mustard Crops Grown in Semi-arid Tropics of Nizamabad

The effect of Brassinolide (BL) sprayed in three concentrations viz., 0.5 mM, 1.0 mM and 2.0 mM on the shoot growth, root growth and foliar growth (plant fresh weight, leaves per plant and leaf area) of mustard plants grown in the semi-arid tropics of Nizamabad was studied. The soil in Nizamabad district is saline land black soil wherein the plants usually experience drought and saline stresses. All the three concentrations of BL stimulated the shoot growth, root growth as well as the foliar growth of mustard plants. BL at 0.5µM was found most effective in increasing the shoot and root growth. The promotion of shoot, root and foliar growth is an indicator that BL mitigated the negative effect of the semi-arid conditions of the soil.