What is the main role of cytokinins in plants?

What is the main role of cytokinins in plants?
  1. Promote cell division and delay leaf senescence
  2. Promote root growth and inhibit lateral bud growth
  3. Increase the length of stems and improve the shape of fruits
  4. Promote flowering and prevent fruit and leaf drop

Solution

Cytokinins have specific effects on cytokinesis, which is cell division. They were discovered as kinetin from the autoclaved herring sperm DNA and were found to promote cell division in plants. Natural cytokinins are synthesized in regions where rapid cell division occurs, such as root apices, developing shoot buds, young fruits, etc. They help to produce new leaves, chloroplasts in leaves, lateral shoot growth and adventitious shoot formation, and also promote nutrient mobilization, which helps in the delay of leaf senescence.

Asked in: NCERT

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