The Role of Cytokinin in Organised Differentiation of Vascular Tissues

Abstract

The role of cytokinin as a limiting and controlling factor in the differentiation of vascular tissues in the plant body is discussed. Cytokinin controls the early stages of fibre differentiation in Helianthus stems and the regeneration of vessels and sieve tubes around a wound in Coleus internodes. The influence of cytokinin on cell differentiation in the vascular tissues varies according to its physiological levels and the levels of auxin. Cytokinin induces an acropetal polar pattern of vessel regeneration around a wound in internodes of Coleus. Similarly, adventitious roots induce acropetal polar patterns of vessel maturation in hypocotyls of Cucurbita. Cytokinin increases the sensitivity of the vascular cambium to the auxin stimulation, resulting in the highest ratio of phloem/xylem under the optimal level of cytokinin. High levels of cytokinin promote callose production on sieve plates. Studies of transgenic plants with altered levels of cytokinin (overexpressing the ipt gene) confirm the involvement of cytokinin in vascular differentiation.