Brassinosteroids: Molecules with Myriad Roles

Abstract

Brassinosteroids constitute the sixth class of plant hormones that are implicated in diverse metabolic functions related to plant growth and development. These steroidal phytohormones are widely distributed throughout the plant kingdom and display large structural diversity. Studies on brassinosteroids, aided by the recent developments in technology, have deciphered their role not only in plant growth and developmental processes but also in plant adaptation under changing environmental conditions. Extensive experimental studies have unravelled brassinosteroid biosynthetic pathway and their signalling modules under various environmental conditions. Current trends indicate that brassinosteroids play a pivotal role in plant’s tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses, resulting in efficient stress management under challenging environmental conditions. Due to their distinctive and versatile functions, brassinosteroids are widely used to increase crop quality and productivity. Brassinosteroids are also reported to possess immunomodulatory, anticancerous, and antiviral properties that also find wide potential applications. This chapter focuses on the current status of our understanding about the role of brassinosteroids, their molecular mechanism of action, and their potential applications in agriculture and allied fields.