BRASSINOSTEROIDS - A NEW GROUP OF PHYTOHO RMONES

The brassinosteroids represent a new class of native plant-growth regu lators with high growth-promoting activity. The article gives a Survey of recent topics on the chemistry, biochemistry, and physiology of th ese compounds for which evidence is accumulating that they constitute a new group of phytohormones. Experiments indicate a broad spectrum of bioregulatory and anti-stress effects which seem to prove the brassin osteroids as ecologically soft plant-growth regulators for future appl ication in agriculture.