gher synthetic cyto

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF KINETIN

(CYTOKININS)
a Cell Division
on plants is to induce cell division
One of the most important biological effects of kinetin
presence of sufficient amount of auxin (IAA), especially in tobacco pith callus, carrot
the
Dot tissue, soybean cotyledon, pea callus etc.
e CellEniargment
enlargement. Significant cell
Like auxins and gibberellins, the kinetin may also induce cell from etiolated leaves of
aiargement has been observed after kinetin treatment in leaf discs cut cells of tobacco roots,
Piaseolus vulgaris, pumpkin cotyledones, tobacco pith cultures, cortical
eLcised Jerusalem artichoke tissue etc.
without pro
While cytokinins have been shown to promote cell expansion (although rad
be extrusion) in leafy cotyledones of some plants such as mustard, sunflower, cucumber,
etc. but this effect is not exhibited by auxin or giberellin i.e., they do not promote cell
apansion in cotyledones
) Initiation of Interfascicular Cambium
Kinetin can induce formation of interfascicular cabium. This has in fact been shown by
Sorokin et al (1962) in pea stem sections.
) Morphogenesis
inetin also has ability to cause morphogenetic changes in an otherwise undifferentiated
allus. For instance, the tobacco pith callus can be made to develop either buds or roots by
thanging th concentration of kinetin and auxin

Chemical name of this cytokinin is 6(3-Methyl-2-butenylamino)-9.-3-D-ritbofuranosylpurine

 460
Fundarrnentals of Plant Physiology
High Auxin
4
> Roots
Low Kinetin

Low Auxin
’ Buds
High Kinetin
The effect of kinetin in stimulating or
initiating the formation of buds has also been oh.
served in leaf cuttings of Saintipaulia ionantha,
Tortella etc. Begonia, Bryophyllum and in mosses e g
A positive effect of kinetin on the
also been reported in Isatis tinctoria and regeneration of shoots from cultured root segments has
Convolvulus arvensis.
(5) Counteraction of Apical
Dominance
Wickson and Thimann (1958) in one of their
lateral buds of pca stem section (second internode) experiments found that the growth of the
in culture solutions containing IAA was
inhibited. But the growth of lateral buds could continue if IAA was
hand, the addition of kinetin along with IAA not included. On the other
tained similar results with entire shoots and stimulated the growth of these buds. They ob
under the control of a balance of concluded that the apical dominance might be
(cyokinins) and IAA. concentrations between endogenous kinetin like substances
That cytokinins play a role in
by physiological studies made on initiating
the growth of lateral buds has also been
proved
cytokinin overproducing
tobacco plants show strong apical dominance, but in mutants of tobacco. The wild type
eral buds grow vigourously and the plants tend to be cytokinin-overproduce mutants the lat
bush-like.
(6) Dormancy of Seeds
Like gibberellins, the dormancy of certain
bacco can also be broken by kinetin light sensitive seeds such as lettuce and to
red light treatment on the treatment in dark. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of far
ment.
germination of the above seeds is also
overcome by kinetin reat
Seeds of parasitic plants e.g., Striga asiatica which
germination can also be induced to germinate by treatingrequire
them
the presence of the ir host tor
with kinetin even in the ab
sence of their host.
(7) Delay of senescence : The
The ageing process of the Richmond-Lang
Effect
leaves usually
lowing) and rapid breakdown of proteins. This isaccompanies with loss of chlorophyll (i.e. yel
called as senescence. In 1957, Richnond and
Lang showed that this senescence could be
postponed to several days in detached Xanthium
leaves by kinetin treatment. This effect of kinetin in delaying the senescence is called as Kie
mond-lang effect.
Mothes (1960) and other workers have shown
mobilization of nutrients and other substances
including auxins to the knetin reated areas. In intact
nart due to kinetin treatment nay result in plants, the delay of senescence at sOne
senescence in other part of the plant.
The observation of Osborne (1962) and other
workers suggest that the high protein cou
tent in kinetin treated tissue 1s probably due to mOre synthesis of proteins than their degrada
tion, and this in turn mnay be due lo the regulatory action of
kinetin on RNA
One of the important factors in delay of senescence in kinetin treated leaves Synthes1s.
is their physl
ological age. For instance, mature leaves of Nicotiana rusticu have been found to be more
responsive to kinetin treatment in delaying senescence than the younger leaves.
 cytokininisopentenyl
S'monophosphates. Biosynthesis
isopentenylpyrophosphate chloroplasts
nated the when
" enzymes
nthetwmuch
ic Growth
Cytokinins
BIOSYNTHESISwithout etiCytolaotekiPrdnoinmots ion arna
transferase. Growth
monophosphate
Adenosine
cytokinin
of
seedlings are of
(i.e., is
P-OH,Ç
free Chloroplast
also Hormones
are
(9R-5-P] known
CH,* (AMP) OH NH2 The cytokinins treatment.
extensive after
synthesized
(A-iPP) OFgreater
PP product treatment
Development
to
ZEATIN
in greatly
iP) grana
Cty by has comparison
CH
which of been
condensation from
this and & enhance
with
condensation
is shown
OTHER chlorophylls
cytokinins
adenosine
supposed to
PAOH C
schematically thoseconversion
pyrophosphate
lsopantenyi reaction
HN-Ch
NATURAL are
to is etiolated and
(PP) monophosphate
be exposed
CHs N°A-isopentenyl)- that the of
precursor is inseedlings etioplasts
rate
Cty CYTOKININS
catalysed Fig.
of to
to 17.24. synthesislight.
all which into
by In
(AMP)
other the
are of such chio
adenosine
natura enzyme illumi-photoropiasts
cases,
and 461