Brassinosteroid biosynthesis, stress resistance in plants, and application of brassinosteroids in plant biotechnology

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are newly discovered plant hormones that protect the plants from biotic and abiotic stress. Plants produce these hormones at all times, however, the quantity and location of their production vary. It has been demonstrated that BRs help the plants to regulate their response to stress conditions and make them more resistant to pest attack, extreme hot or cold environment, water scarcity, and salinity, among other types of stress. Manipulation of genes involved in the synthesis of BRs in different plants is a feasible strategy for genetic improvement of crop production and stress tolerance.