Castasterone attenuates insecticide induced phytotoxicity in mustard

In the current investigation, we studied role of castasterone (CS), (a bioactive brassinosteroid) in Brassica juncea grown under imidacloprid (IMI) stress. We observed that CS-seed treatment resulted in the recovery of seedling growth under IMI toxicity. Seed treatment with CS, significantly enhanced the contents of pigments like chlorophylls, carotenoids, anthocyanins and xanthophylls under stress. Oxidative stress generated by the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) like hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion, was reduced after CS treatment under IMI toxicity. Antioxidative defense system got activated after CS-seed treatment, resulting in the increased activities of enzymes. Moreover, CS-seed treatment under IMI stress also stimulated the biosynthesis of organic acids of Krebs cycle (citrate, succinate, fumarate and malate) and phenolics. We also noticed that CS is also involved in the regulation of the gene expression of some key enzymes involved in pigment metabolism (CHLASE, PSY, CHS), carbon fixation (RUBISCO), Krebs cycle (CS, SUCLG1, SDH, FH), ROS generation (RBO), antioxidative enzymes (SOD, CAT, POD, DHAR, GR, GST), phenolic biosynthesis (PAL) and pesticide detoxification system (CXE, P450, NADH). This modulated gene expression after CS-treatment activated the insecticide detoxification, leading to the reduction of IMI residues. Data analysis using multivariate statistical technique i.e. multiple linear regression, also supported the fact that CS can efficiently reduce IMI induced phytotoxicity in B. juncea. [Display omitted] •Imidacloprid (IMI) toxicity caused oxidative stress to Brassica juncea.•Castasterone (CS) recovered growth of B. juncea under IMI stress.•CS triggered the scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced under IMI stress.•CS modulated the gene expression of key enzymes involved in plant's physiological processes under IMI stress.•CS treatment resulted in reduction of IMI residues.