Cytokinins and Gibberellins

Dr. K. VENKATESAN
Professor (CRP)

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Cytokinins

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 Cytokinins
• discovered by “accident”
• structurally related to purine bases in nucleic
acids
• most common is zeatin and kinetin
• Coconut milky endosperms is rich in
cytokinins
• Letham, 1963 gave the term

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 Cytokinins
Site of synthesis
• synthesised in roots, embryos, fruits
• transported via xylem to other organs
• Chemical name – 6- furfuryl aminopurine

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Synthetic Cytokinins

Benzyl Adenine (BA)

Benzyl Amino Purine (BAP)

 Cytokinins
Mode of action
• to promote cell division (cytokinesis)
• Application site accumulation of amino acid,
inorganic phosphate, sugar etc. takes place

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 Cytokinins
Roles
• promote cell division in tissues
• generally delay senescence in tissues
• promotes growth of lateral buds, (opposite to
auxin)
• Breaking seed dormancy
• Enhance Chloroplast development

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Delay of Senescence (Richmond –Lang)

Ageing process in plants

Loss of chlorophyll Yellowing of leaves

Senescence

By Cytokinin Treatment Senescence postponed

Effect of Cytokinin in delaying the senescence

is called as ‘Richmond Lang effect’
 Cytokinin – Induced Nutrient Mobilization

Transport of many solutes from older part to CK treated zone

Transport of Nutrients and Amino acids to site of CK application

Enhancing sink efficiency – Increasing partition coefficient

Cytokinin and auxin
complexity of plant-hormone effects and interactions
Increasing auxin concentration
Increasing
Cytokinin
concentration

Auxin
promotes root
Lack of
formation
differentiation
when both are
present
Cytokinin promotes
shoot formation

Callus of Nicotiana
(Solanaceae family)
• act in conjunction with auxins to stimulate cell
division
• balance between these 2 hormones will
determine direction in which tissues
differentiate.
• high auxin / cytokinin ratios stimulate root
formation
• low auxin / cytokinin ratios stimulate bud &
shoot development

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Auxin / cytokinins

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 Cytokinins
Uses - Flower trade
• cytokinin sprays prolong shelf life of flowers
• inhibit protein breakdown etc.

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Gibberellins

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 Background

• “Foolish seedling” disease in rice

• In 1930's, Ewiti Kurosawa and colleagues

• Gibberella fungus

• ~80 naturally occurring

• Precursor mevalonic acid

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Discovered in association with Foolish
disease of rice (Gibberella fujikuroi)

uninfected infected
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Yabuta and Sumuki Isolated and named it as
Gibberellin
136 Gibberellins
But all compounds do not have biological
activity
Only 15 Gibberellins have biological activity
Di Terpenoid Compounds
Abbreviated as GA1 ………..GAn

GA1– Most active natural Gibberellin

GA3 – Most active synthetic Gibberellin
Biosynthesis of Gibberellins
 Roles
• seed & bud germination
• promote stem elongation
• little effect on roots
• Can delay senescence in leaves and citrus
fruits
• Can cause parthenocarpic (seedless) fruit
development

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 Responsible for synthesis of α-Amylase Enzyme

 Induce male flower production in Cucumber

 Induce female flower production in Maize

 Increase the size of Seedless Grapes

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http://www.wisc.edu/botit/Botany_130/Physiology/GA.html

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 Uses
• fruit growth "Thompson Seedless"
• seed germination

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• Gibberellins are used commercially
– In the spraying of Thompson seedless grapes

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Wild Radish – Rosette & Bolt
A FLOWERING ANNUAL

YEAR ONE YEAR ONE

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Common Mullen – Rosette & Bolt
A FLOWERING BIENNIAL

YEAR ONE

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•
Germination
After water is imbibed, the release of gibberellins from the
embryo
– Signals the seeds to break dormancy and germinate
2 The aleurone responds by
1 After a seed synthesizing and secreting
imbibes water, the digestive enzymes that 3 Sugars and other
embryo releases hydrolyze stored nutrients in nutrients absorbed
gibberellin (GA) the endosperm. One example from the endosperm
as a signal to the is -amylase, which hydrolyzes by the scutellum
aleurone, the thin starch. (A similar enzyme in (cotyledon) are consumed
outer layer of the our saliva helps in digesting during growth of the
endosperm. bread and other starchy foods.) embryo into a seedling.

Aleurone
Endosperm

-amylase Sugar
GA

GA
Water

Radicle
Scutellum
(cotyledon)

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Anti- gibberellines

AMO – 1618
CCC - Chloro choline chloride
Phosphon – D
Paclobutrazol

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 NICE DAY

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