Application of brassinosteroid to Tabebuia alba (Bignoniaceae) plants

Abstract

The objective of this study was to observe the effects of brassinosteroid, gibberelin, and auxin application on the development and foliar anatomy of Tabebuia alba (Cham.) Sandw. seedlings. T. alba seedlings were grown in plastic bags with fertilized soil and treated with the following: 1- water (control); 2-brassinolide (BR1) 0.104 mM; 3- BR1 0.208 mM; 4- 3-indoleacetic acid (IAA) 0.2854 mM; 5- IAA 0.5708 mM; 6- GA3 (gibberellin A3) 0.1443 mM; 7- GA3 0.2887 mM; 8- GA3 0.072 mM + IAA 0.1427 mM; 9- GA3 0.1443 mM + IAA 0.2854 mM; 10- GA3 0.072 mM + BR1 0.052 mM; and 11- GA3 0.1443 mM + BR1 0.104 mM. Plant height and petiole length were measured before the treatments and 21 days after application of the growth regulators. These data allowed the calculation of stem and petiole growth rates. The results showed that GA3 + brassinolide produced the highest stem and petiole growth rates and brassinolide application stimulated petiole growth but not stem growth. The anatomical study of leaves showed alterations in blade and petiole thickness, palisade and spongy parenchyma height, and epidermis cells.