Foliar spray of brassinosteroid enhances yield and quality of Solanum lycopersicum under cadmium stress

The presence of cadmium in the soil above a particular level is proposed to check not only plant growth but also productivity and fruit quality. Therefore, in the present study investigations are directed to evaluate the effect of four levels of cadmium (3, 6, 9, 12 mg kg(-1)) in interaction with two analogs of brassinosteroids on the growth, fruit yield and quality of tomato. Under greenhouse conditions plants were analyzed for antioxidant system activity and photosynthetic assimilation efficiency. Cd stressed plants exhibited poor growth and biological yield. The metal also had a negative impact on the antioxidant system of the resulting fruits. However, the follow up application of BRs (10(-8) M) neutralized the damaging effects of the metal on the plants.