Abstract
The current investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of 24-Epibrassinolide (EBL) on growth, physiological and biochemical attributes along with oil contents of Jasminum sambac. Present experiment was laid out according to Randomized Complete Block Design and foliar application of 24-Epibrassinolide were applied in four different concentrations viz. 1, 2, 3 and 4 mu M. Present study results showed that EBL application enhanced the plant growth, chlorophyll contents and rate of photosynthesis of the J. sambac. The results indicated that EBL concentration 2 mu M proved to be the best treatment for morpho-physiological and bio-chemical traits like number of leaves (25.55), chlorophyll contents (6.84 mg g(-1)), leaf area (25.95 cm(2)), fresh and dry weight ratio (4.97), number of flower per plant (1324), photosynthetic rates (4.80 mu mol m(-2) S-1), transpiration rate (0.776 mmol m(-2) S-1), stomatal conductance (0.158 mmol m(-2) S-2) and sub-stomatal cavity (286.05 mu molmol(-1)) compared with other treatments. However, plants treated with 3 mu M showed better results for growth indices like plant height, number of branches per plant, fresh weight of flower, and dry weight of flower as compared to rest of the treatments. In case of flower diameter (2.16 cm) and leaf water potential (22.28 MPa), control treatment gave the maximum values compared to other treatments. However, application of EBL @ 1 mu M showed good results for bud diameter only. The quantitative analysis of J. sambac oil was also carried out and results exhibited that the plants treated with 3 mu M EBL, revealed an increase in essential oil contents. The present study revealed encouraging results related to EBL application on the growth performance and essential oil contents in J. sambac.