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Naturally Occurring Cytokinin

Cytokinins are a class of plant growth regulators that are largely involved in the process of cell division in the plant's roots and shoot system, among other things. This hormone aids in the promotion of cell growth, development, and differentiation, as well as the alteration of apical dominance and the postponement of leaf senescence in plants.

These hormones are found in abundance in all of the complex plants, bacteria, mosses, and fungi on the planet. It is estimated that there are over 200 different types of synthetic and natural cytokinins, with the majority of them developing in the meristem of the roots. It is the term of a type of plant tissue that actively encourages cell development. It is found in the root system. A meristem is a location in a plant where new growth occurs, similar to the top of the stem.

Agrobacterium is a wonderful organism that deserves to be recognised. Its work over the last 100 years has revolutionised plant molecular genetics and given rise to a whole new sector dedicated to the genetic modification of plants, which is now worth billions of dollars worldwide.

In the beginning, studies were conducted primarily with the goal of determining the source of damaging galls on ornamental plants and fruit trees. 

Crown gall was first documented in the United States in 1907 by two plant pathologists, Smith and Townsend, who discovered that the causative agent of the disease, which they dubbed Bacterium tumefaciens, was a bacterium.

The discovery of this very rare plant disease by Armin Braun, a scientist at the Rockefeller Institute in Princeton, New Jersey, more than 30 years later, proved that it was a disease with features that had never been observed before. His observations prompted a number of thought-provoking questions.

In the 1960s, a number of laboratories with expertise in the techniques of bacterial genetics and nucleic acid chemistry began to conduct research into the system. 

Several important discoveries were produced in a relatively short period of time. Gall development has been proved to be associated with an exceptionally big plasmid that has been found. 

Agrobacterium evolved the intricate machinery required to cause tumours to develop on plant cells

Numerous solutions to these issues led to the development of paradigms that are now considered to be of broad biological significance and which apply not just to bacterial–plant interactions, but also to bacterial–animal interactions. Understanding the fundamental biology of this one-of-a-kind system made it possible to develop Agrobacterium as a key player in the genetic modification of plants, which is now widely used. 

This bacteria, on the other hand, possesses skills that go beyond the alteration of plant cells. It has been demonstrated that Agrobacterium can transfer its T-DNA into representative algae, fungus, and even human cells in the laboratory. The study of other eukaryotic cells should now be conceivable because of the advances made possible by Agrobacterium in plant cell research.

If we are to grasp the crown gall system, we must recognise the characteristics of Agrobacterium that have helped to the remarkable progress that has been made in understanding this system. When grown on a basic medium, the organism develops quickly, and it is responsive to genetic changes similar to those seen in Escherichia coli. Functions

Cytokinins aid in the stimulation of cell division by sustaining the production of proteins that are necessary for mitosis to take place. 

Mitosis 

The term Mitosis refers to a non-sexual division of cells that happens in all living things and is responsible for the development of extra cells necessary for the growth of the organism. Mitosis occurs on a daily basis, and it is responsible for replacing damaged cells by allowing them to proliferate. When you are injured and lose your skin from your knee, it is the same mitosis that aids in the creation of all the cells that were lost and allows you to regain your skin. The process of mitosis is responsible for the growth of plants.

Uses

  1. It aids in the promotion of cell division and the growth of plants.
  2. Farmers use this method to boost the yield of their crops.
  3. Although cotton seedlings were not affected by the application, it did result in a 5-10 percent rise when administered under drought conditions.
  4. The ability to induce resistance to specific disease-causing microorganisms plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of plant diseases.

Conclusion 

Therefore it can be concluded, Gene transfer tests are also relatively affordable and quick to perform. Furthermore, it has a very tiny genome, which made it a good candidate for genome sequencing and analysis even before genome sequencing became commonplace. Those working in the field of agrobiology are well aware that it is an organism that is enjoyable to study.

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Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the NEET UG Examination Preparation.

What are the benefits of cytokinins?

Answer: Cell division, also known as cytokinesis, is promoted...Read full

Who was the first to discover natural cytokinin?

Answer: Cytokinins were discovered by F Skoog, C Miller, and their colleagues in the 1950s as facto...Read full

What is the location of natural cytokinin synthesis?

Answer: Cytokinins are predominantly created in the meristem...Read full

What exactly is cytokinin, a naturally occurring substance?

Answer: Cytokinins are adenine derivatives with different substitutions linked to the N6 Position o...Read full