Aplicação foliar de 24-epibrassinolídeo na mitigação do estresse salino em tomate cereja (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme)

Abstract

Salt stress is a limiting factor for plant growth, affecting agricultural productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of foliar application of 24-epibrassinolide in mitigating salt stress in cherry tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme). The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD), with four replications, and the treatments were organized in a 2 × 5 factorial scheme, corresponding to two levels of hormone application (with and without) and four salinity levels (0.5; 1.5; 3.0; 4.5 and 6 dS/m), totaling 40 experimental units. Biometric parameters, fresh and dry mass, and chlorophyll content under salinity conditions were analyzed. Although the results show that salinity impaired the physiological development of plants, it was not possible to observe significant effects of the application of 24-epibrassinolide due to biotic and environmental factors. It is concluded that further studies under controlled conditions are needed to accurately evaluate the effects of the hormone.