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Flow of cytokinins through the environment

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Abstract

Cytokinins are a group of plant growth regulators that elicit a wide range of physiological responses in plants. Cytokinins are not restricted to plants alone but also occur in lower order plants, algae and bacteria as well as in parasitic insects and nematodes. The use of cytokinins, including synthetic cytokinins, in agriculture also contributes to the available cytokinin pool. This review discusses possible ways in which cytokinins move through the environment such as via root exudates, leaf litter and in water systems, thus potentially influencing the growth and development of plants and other organisms. This review highlights the need for a more holistic and ecological approach in order to understand cytokinin regulation and homeostasis in plants.

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Abbreviations

ADP:

Adenosine-5-diphosphate

AMP:

Adenosine-5-monophosphate

ARR :

Arabidopsis response regulator gene

ATP:

Adenosine-5-triphosphate

BA:

N6-benzyladenine

cZ:

cis-Zeatin

cZR:

cis-Zeatin riboside

DHZ:

Dihydrozeatin

DHZR:

Dihydrozeatin riboside

DMAPP:

Dimethylally diphosphate

ENT :

Equilibrative nucleoside transporter gene

HMBDP:

1-Hydroxy-2-methyl-2-butenyl 4-diphosphate

iP:

N6-(2-isopentenyl)adenine

iPR:

N6-(2-isopentenyl)adenosine

iPRDP:

N6-(2-isopentenyl)adenosine-5′-diphosphate

iPRMP:

N6-(2-isopentenyl)adenosine-5′-monophosphate

iPRTP:

N6-(2-isopentenyl)adenosine-5′-triphosphate

ITP:

Isopentenyltransferase enzyme

ipt :

Isopentenyltransferase gene

MEP:

Methylerythritol pathway

MVA:

Mevalonate pathway

tZ:

trans-Zeatin

tZR:

trans-Zeatin riboside

tZRMP:

trans-Zeatin riboside-5′-monophosphate

Z:

Zeatin

ZOG:

Zeatin-O-glucoside

ZR:

Zeatin riboside

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Acknowledgments

The National Research Foundation, South Africa and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa are thanked for financial support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, P/Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa

    W. A. Stirk & J. van Staden

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  1. W. A. Stirk
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  2. J. van Staden
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Correspondence to W. A. Stirk.

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Stirk, W.A., van Staden, J. Flow of cytokinins through the environment. Plant Growth Regul 62, 101–116 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-010-9481-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-010-9481-x

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