Cytokinin Control of Monocarpic Senescence in Soybean

Abstract

Senescence is an internally controlled degeneration leading to death [4]. From the cell level to the whole plant level, most processes decline; however, this loss of vital functions and disassembly of the cell’s internal structure is a highly ordered process [17, 19]. Indeed, senescence serves a variety of important functions in plant development [4]. While the concept of senescence seems clear, its precise biochemistry is not [19]. In any case, it should not be assumed that all downward adjustments of metabolism represent senescence.