24-Epibrassinolide reduces stress in nematode-infected tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants cultured in vitro

24-Epibrassinolide (EBL) is considered the most probable brassinosteroid (BR) candidate that could be used for practical application in agriculture. EBL-induced stress-protective properties were evaluated in in vitro-grown tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) varieties Pusa Ruby (susceptible to nematodes) and PNR-7 (resistant to nematodes) during nematode pathogenesis. Sterilized tomato seeds treated with 10^?11, 10^?9, or 10^?7 M EBL and germinated in vitro were inoculated with second-stage juveniles of Meloidogyne incognita [(Kofoid and White) Chitwood]. Whole plant analyses of morphological and biochemical parameters 7 d after inoculation showed significant improvements in plant growth and development for both varieties and a highly significant reduction in the number of galls in the susceptible variety. Increased specific activities of antioxidative enzymes (catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase) were observed in EBL-treated seedlings of both varieties, but increases were higher in the resistant variety. A highly significant increase in antioxidants (ascorbic acid content, total flavonoid content, total glutathione content, and total phenolic content) was observed in EBL-treated Pusa Ruby seedlings, whereas in PNR-7, significant increases were found except for total flavonoid content, which increased non-significantly. Confocal microscopic images showed amelioration of stress in roots of EBL-treated seedlings as indicated by the decrease in level of green fluorescence in them as compared to untreated and nematode-inoculated roots.