hormonal-regulation
Hormonal regulation in plants refers to the coordination of growth, development, and stress responses through signaling molecules such as auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, abscisic acid, and ethylene. These plant hormones act as chemical messengers that control processes ranging from seed germination and root elongation to flowering and fruit ripening. Understanding how plants synthesize, transport, and respond to these hormones is fundamental to improving crop yields, stress tolerance, and overall agricultural productivity.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-05-01
Scientists mapped all the genes in mulberry trees responsible for producing cytokinins — hormones that control growth, branching, and stress responses. They found that one class of these genes ramps up sharply during drought, pointing to a built-in hormonal mechanism mulberry uses to cope with water stress.
Six IPT genes were found in two mulberry species (M. notabilis and M. alba) and seven in a third (M. indica cv. K2), revealing minor but meaningful variation across the genus.
Adenylate-type IPT genes were strongly up-regulated under drought stress, while tRNA-type IPT genes were suppressed, indicating opposite functional roles in stress response.
One key gene (MiIPT1) was confirmed to operate inside the plastid (the plant's photosynthesis compartment), pinpointing where early cytokinin production physically occurs in the cell.
