Molecular Basis of Cytokinin Action during Root Development

Cytokinins are a class of plant hormones involved in many aspects of plant development. The discovery of their signaling pathway and the identification of crucial components of both their biosynthesis and catabolism allowed their role in fundamental processes governing plant organogenesis to be untangled. This chapter will focus on the role of cytokinin during root development. Recent discoveries on how cytokinin interacts with other hormones to control root meristem growth and maintenance will be discussed, as well as considering recent evidence on the crucial role of cytokinin in controlling root response to abiotic stress.