I work alot with CHATGPT AI, as it has a ton of information and quick access to the web. I love asking it questions like this I felt this information maybe helpful to other as I did a quick serch on the forum and there was not much on cytokinins other than a few people mentioning it here and there. This is a response from AI, agian as a home grower never thought of exploring this avenue.
"Cytokinins are plant hormones that play a crucial role in cell division and differentiation, which influences plant growth, development, and branching. They work by interacting with other plant hormones, particularly auxins, and are essential in promoting lateral branching, delaying aging, and even improving nutrient allocation within the plant. Here’s a breakdown of how cytokinins work:
1. Cell Division and Growth
- Cytokinins are known as the primary hormones responsible for cell division, or cytokinesis. They signal plant cells to divide and produce new cells, which supports growth in various parts of the plant, including shoots, roots, and leaves.
- They work by binding to cytokinin receptors in plant cells, which initiates a cascade of signaling events that stimulate the plant’s DNA and cellular machinery to divide.
2. Regulating Branching and Shoot Development
- Cytokinins promote the growth of lateral or side branches by counteracting the effects of auxins, another key plant hormone. Auxins tend to concentrate in the main stem and inhibit the growth of side branches to focus growth upward (known as apical dominance).
- When cytokinin levels rise or auxin levels drop (such as after pruning or topping), cytokinins stimulate lateral buds, causing them to grow outward. This results in bushier growth with more branching, which is ideal for increasing the plant’s leaf and bud exposure to light.
3. Interaction with Auxins
- Cytokinins and auxins often work together, but they have opposing effects in many processes. Auxins promote root growth and inhibit lateral bud development, while cytokinins encourage shoot growth and branching.
- The balance of cytokinins to auxins determines whether a plant will prioritize vertical growth (high auxin, low cytokinin) or lateral branching (high cytokinin, lower auxin).
4. Delaying Senescence (Aging)
- Cytokinins delay the process of leaf aging or senescence. This is partly why cytokinins are often used in plant tissue culture to maintain the freshness and viability of plant samples. By slowing down aging, cytokinins help the plant keep its leaves functional for longer, which is beneficial for photosynthesis and overall plant health.
5. Nutrient Allocation and Chloroplast Development
- Cytokinins promote nutrient transport and can influence how nutrients are allocated within the plant. They help direct nutrients to areas of active growth, such as developing shoots and buds.
- Cytokinins also encourage chloroplast development (chloroplasts are the organelles in plant cells that conduct photosynthesis), which helps with energy production and can increase the plant’s vigor and productivity.
Cytokinins in Marijuana Cultivation
In marijuana cultivation, controlling cytokinins through techniques like pruning or even applying cytokinin-based growth regulators can encourage bushier plants with more buds. This lateral branching maximizes light capture, supports higher bud production, and ultimately increases yields."