Cytokinins as central regulators during plant growth and stress response

• Published in: Plant cell reports Vol. 40; no. 2; pp. 271 - 282
• Main Authors: Li, Si-Min, Zheng, Hong-Xiang, Zhang, Xian-Sheng, Sui, Na
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.02.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biosynthesis; Biotechnology; Cell Biology; Crosstalk; Cytokinins; Cytokinins - metabolism; Drought; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Gene regulation; Gibberellins; Gibberellins - metabolism; Indoleacetic Acids - metabolism; Life Sciences; Low temperature; Metabolism; Phosphorylation; Phytohormones; Plant Biochemistry; Plant Development; Plant growth; Plant Growth Regulators - metabolism; Plant Physiological Phenomena; Plant Sciences; Plants - genetics; Review; Signal Transduction; Stress response; Stress, Physiological; Transcription factors; Abiotic stress response; Plant growth; Cytokinin; Signaling and gene regulation; Biosynthesis and metabolism
• ISSN: 0721-7714; 1432-203X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00299-020-02612-1

Key message Cytokinins are a class of phytohormone that participate in the regulation of the plant growth, development, and stress response. In this review, the potential regulating mechanism during plant growth and stress response are discussed. Cytokinins are a class of phytohormone that participate in the regulation of plant growth, physiological activities, and yield. Cytokinins also play a key role in response to abiotic stresses, such as drought, salt and high or low temperature. Through the signal transduction pathway, cytokinins interact with various transcription factors via a series of phosphorylation cascades to regulate cytokinin-target gene expression. In this review, we systematically summarize the biosynthesis and metabolism of cytokinins, cytokinin signaling, and associated gene regulation, and highlight the function of cytokinins during plant development and resistance to abiotic stress. We also focus on the importance of crosstalk between cytokinins and other classes of phytohormones, including auxin, ethylene, strigolactone, and gibberellin. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of recent findings on the mechanisms by which cytokinins act as central regulators of plant development and stress reactions, and highlight topics for future research.