Brassinosteroid improves light stress tolerance in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) by regulating redox status, photosynthesis and photosystem II

Plants often experience variations in light intensity, referred to as light stress, that negatively impact important aspects of plant growth and development, including photosynthesis and antioxidant system. The photosynthetic machinery is susceptible to these disturbances, especially photosystem II and its reaction centers. We aimed to evaluate the role of brassinosteriod in plants under both high and low light conditions by examining various physiological parameters such as photosynthetic efficiency, pigment levels, and enzymatic activity of various antioxidant enzymes in one month old tomato plants. We investigated various chlorophyll fluorescence parameters under low light (LL) and high light (HL) conditions and the associated gene expression related to photosynthesis, including plastocyanin, ferredoxin, and photosystem II oxygen-evolving enhancer protein 3 (PsbQ). Our results indicate that exogenous brassinosteroid application considerably increased tolerance to both high and low light stress in 4-week-old tomato as treated plants displayed enhanced photosynthesis, reduced oxidative damage, and increased antioxidant enzyme activity in comparison to control plants. Furthermore, brassinosteroid treatment enhanced the expression of genes associated with antioxidant pathways, which significantly contributed to the recovery of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters crucial for plant growth and development. Our results provide valuable insights into how brassinosteroid reduces light-induced stress in tomato plants.