(Table 1) reveal the possibility of the inclusion of 28-homobrassinolide, in the existing list of phytohormones, as a potential inducer of the, enzyme protein. It was evident that the steroid significantly elevated the level of the α-amylase and the maximum values, 58% more than that of the control, were recorded with the two lower concentrations (10 –10 M and 10 –8 M) of the HBR at twelve hour interval. The level of the enzyme activity increased as the germination advanced. The activity of catalase and peroxidase, responsible for the gluconeogenesis of lipids
(Jones, 1972) of the aleurone layer cells and also required to remove toxic intermediates, produced from actively metabolizing cells (Priestley, 1986) was favourably affected by the HBR and increased further as the germination progressed (Table 1). The higher concentration (10 –6 M) of HBR was not as active as the two lower concentrations (10 –8 and 10 –10 M) where the response was comparable and the values increased by about 60%, 63% and 44% in case of peroxidase and 32%, 45% and 49% for catalase at the three intervals (12, 18 and 24 h) respectively