Cross-talk between brassinosteroids and other phytohormones: biological functions and molecular mechanism

Abstract

To maintain optimal growth and survival, plants balance complex developmental processes while simultaneously sensing and responding to both endogenous physiological factors and changes in their surroundings. Phytohormones are an important class of compounds, which regulate various aspects of plant development and responses to adverse environmental conditions. With the signaling pathways well worked out for most of the hormones, it is evident that these signaling pathways interact in a complex network to coordinate such processes. Besides the five established classical groups of phytohormones, brassinosteroids (BRs) have emerged as prominent phytohormones in recent times. BRs are not only strong modulators of cellular division, cellular elongation, and cellular differentiation across plant tissues but also they make a significant contribution in improving adaptation to various stresses. This chapter summarizes mechanisms regulating production, homeostasis, signaling of BR and their interconnections with different plant hormones to control plant growth and adaptation.