Brassinosteroid biology, potential uses in post-harvest technology and future challenges

Abstract

Brassinosteroids (BR) are steroid-plant hormones that promote plant development and can trigger specific responses against adverse environmental conditions. That is why these substances are widely used exogenously at the crop level. However, BR is not yet included in the usual list of practices considered in commercial post-harvest stages. This review article summarizes the post-harvest effects of BR in fruits and vegetables by family, depending on the mode of application and structure-function relationship, and brings together the very few research articles that have also evaluated the use of BR inhibitors in post-harvest. Moreover, a concise scheme of the mechanism of action of BR is provided to facilitate the global understanding of the basic functioning of these hormones in plants and horticultural products. The present review also brings to light some undisclosed questions related to the effects of BR regarding vegetable state or development, BR commercial product formulations, product safety, and current implementing legislation of these substances, all information that has not been classified to date. As far as we know, the present review facilitates a quick and concrete route of not-systematized information related to BR.