Soaking seeds of Lens culinaris with 28‐homobrassinolide increased nitrate reductase activity and grain yield in the field in India

Summary Surface‐sterilised seeds of Lens culinaris cv. Pusa‐6 were soaked in 0 M, 10−6 M, 10−8 M or 10−10 M aqueous solutions of 28‐homobrassinolide (HBR) for 4 h, 8 h or 12 h and planted in the field in a sandy loam soil. Plants were sampled 60, 90 and 120 days after sowing (DAS). Soaking with HBR decreased root length and nodule number per plant but increased nitrate reductase activity (E.C.1.6.6.1). Soaking with HBR also increased grain yield at the final harvest 140 DAS. The greatest increase was obtained with an HBR concentration of 10−8 M.