Effects of GR24 and 24‐eBL on the growth of wheat ( <i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) seedlings grown under salt stress

ABSTRACT Salt stress severely impacts wheat yields. This study investigates the effects of brassinosteroids (eBL) and strigolactones (GR24) on wheat growth under 150 mM salt stress. Exogenous applications of 10 −⁷ M eBL and 10 −8 M GR24 were made to wheat leaves. After 20 days, the morphological growth parameters, including root and stem fresh weight and length, were assessed, along with biochemical markers for the whole plant. Results showed significant differences between control and salt–stressed seedlings, with eBL and GR24 also inducing variations. The salt + eBL group exhibited a 30% increase in total protein content, while peroxidase (POD) activity decreased by 34%. Catalase (CAT) activity increased by 78% in salt–stressed seedlings compared to controls, but GR24 and eBL reduced CAT activity by 20% and 38%, respectively. Both eBL and GR24 demonstrated protective effects by mitigating the negative impacts of salt stress. This research offers insights into the adaptation mechanisms of wheat to salt stress, contributing to better strategies for crop resilience under changing climatic conditions. .