PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Li, Y. H. AU - Liu, Y. J. AU - Xu, X. L. AU - Jin, M. AU - An, L. Z. AU - Zhang, H. TI - Effect of 24-epibrassinolide on drought stress-induced changes in Chorispora bungeana DP - 2012 Mar 1 TA - Biologia plantarum PG - 192--196 VI - 56 IP - 1 AID - 10.1007/s10535-012-0041-2 IS - AB - Brassinosteroids (BRs) have been proposed to increase the resistance of plants to drought stress. The effect of foliar application of 0.1 μM 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) on chlorophyll (Chl) content, photosystem 2 (PS 2) photochemistry, membrane permeability, lipid peroxidation, relative water content (RWC), proline content, and the antioxidant system in drought-stressed Chorispora bungeana plants was investigated. The results showed that polyethylene glycol (PEG) induced water stress decreased RWC, Chl content and variable to maximum Chl fluorescence ratio (F<sub>v</sub>/F<sub>m</sub>) less in plants pretreated with EBR than in non-pretreated plants. In addition, lipid peroxidation, measured in terms of malondialdehyde content, membrane permeability and proline content in drought-stressed plants were less increased in EBR pretreated plants, while antioxidative enzyme activities and reduced ascorbate and glutathione contents were more increased in EBR pretreated than in non-pretreated plants. These results suggested that EBR could improve plant growth under drought stress