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