Cytokinins are a bunch of plant growth regulators which are primarily involved in performing cellular division in plant roots, shoot systems. This hormone helps in increasing the cell’s growth, development, differentiation, affecting apical dominance, leaf senescence, and axillary bud growth.
These hormones are mostly found altogether in all the complex plants, bacteria, mosses, and fungi. There are some 200 different synthetic and natural cytokinins and most of them are usually developed within the meristem of the roots. It is the name of an area of tissue in the plant that promotes cell division actively. A meristem is a place that grows on the plants like the top of the stem.
Cytokinins are usually formed within the roots then travel across the xylem to other parts of the plant where plant growth continues like fruits, seeds, and young leaves.
What are the Functions of Cytokinins?
Cytokinins help in increasing the cellular division by maintaining the protein production that’s important for mitosis. The term Mitosis refers to a non-sexual division of cells that sometimes occurs in all the living things by developing additional cells for growth of the body. Mitosis occurs a day by replacing the damaged cells by allowing them for growth. There are many times when you get hurt and you lose your skin from the knee, it’s the same mitosis that helps in growth of all the cells you lost and gets you the skin.
While in plants, mitosis develops some more cells that makes the plant grow. You must have played building blocks in your childhood days, from this you will consider the same as plant cells. With the occurrence of this process, mitosis, a replacement cell is made and transported to the top end of the plant by increasing its length. This is a bit like cementing a building block to your original structure.
What are the Uses of Cytokinins?
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Helps in promoting cell division and growth of the plant.
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Used by farmers to increase the crops
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When applied to cotton seedlings, led to 5-10 % to extend even in drought conditions.
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It plays an important role in plant pathogenesis by inducing resistance against certain disease-causing bacteria.