Multifunctional Role of Cytokinin in Horticultural Crops

Overview

Journal Int J Mol Sci

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Biochemistry
Chemistry
Molecular Biology

Date 2025 Feb 13

PMID 39940806

Authors

Shahid Hussain

Jingjing Chang

Jing Li

Lei Chen

Sheraz Ahmad

Zhao Song

Baige Zhang

Xiao Chen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Cytokinins (CKs) are a class of phytohormones identified in the early 1960s and are mainly responsible for stimulating cell division. Following the discovery, research to help understand the pluralistic roles of CKs in plant growth and stress biology increased. With their fascinating ability, CKs serve as an important element in regulating the defense-growth trade-off. Herein, we demonstrate how the CK fine-tuning the organogenesis of different parts of horticultural plants is discussed. CK's role in tailoring reproductive biology (flowering, sex differentiation, fruit set, and fruit attributes) has been presented. An extensive explanation of the CK-mediated response of horticultural crops to abiotic (temperature, drought, and salinity) and biotic stresses (fungal, bacterial, and nematodes) is provided. Finally, we posit the unexplored roles of CKs and highlight the research gaps worth addressing.

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