Open Access

REVIEW

From Cell Division to Stress Tolerance: The Versatile Roles of Cytokinins in Plants

Antonio Rodrigues da Cunha Neto¹, Alexandra dos Santos Ambrósio¹, Arlinda de Jesus Rodrigues Resende¹, Breno Régis Santos¹, Michele Carla Nadal^2,*

1 Instituto de Ciências da Natureza, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, 37130-001, Brazil
2 Escuela de Ciencias Agrícolas y Veterinarias, Universidad Viña del Mar, Vina del Mar, 2572007, Chile

* Corresponding Author: Michele Carla Nadal. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Emerging Insights into Phytohormonal Crosstalk in Plant Stress Tolerance)

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2025, 94(3), 539-560. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2025.061776

Received 03 December 2024; Accepted 06 February 2025; Issue published 31 March 2025

Abstract

Cytokinins are plant hormones that are essential for plant growth and development and are involved in a variety of processes. They are synthesized by the modification of adenine with an isoprenoid chain, resulting in cytokinins such as isopentenyladenine and zeatin. The levels of these hormones are regulated by conjugation, degradation and oxidation processes that modulate their activity. Cytokinins are perceived by cells through specific receptors that, when activated, trigger signaling cascades responsible for regulating the expression of genes critical for development. In addition, cytokinins interact with other hormones, such as auxins, to coordinate plant growth and architecture. They are transported by the xylem and phloem, allowing them to be distributed to different parts of the plant and to regulate processes such as cell division, morphogenesis and inhibition of leaf senescence, thereby prolonging the vegetative phase. Cytokinins also play a role in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. They influence the expression of defense genes against pathogens and pests and adjust plant metabolism and growth in response to adverse conditions such as drought and salinity. Cytokinins interact in an integrated manner with other stress hormones, such as abscisic acid and ethylene, to coordinate plant responses to environmental challenges. In agriculture, the manipulation of cytokinins, whether by external application or genetic modification, shows great potential for increasing crop yields and improving plant resistance to stress. Advances in molecular biology and gene editing offer new opportunities to precisely modify these functions. This review elucidates recent research on cytokinins, covering their mechanisms of action, interactions with other hormones, and applications in agriculture.

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