Cytokinins

Cytokinins are plant hormones that control cell division, cell elongation, and differentiation. They are responsible for many aspects of plant growth and development, including leaf and flower formation, stimulation of metabolism, and the ripening of fruits. By regulating the production of chloroplasts, cytokinins also play a role in photosynthesis. Cytokinins can be naturally formed by plants or applied as external growth regulators. Application of the hormone has been shown to increase the number of fruits, reduce plant tissue damage, and extend their shelf life. This makes cytokinins a useful tool in agriculture for both food production and bioengineering.