Cytokinin formation by oxidative metabolism

A new hypothesis for the synthesis of cytokinins in plants is presented. It contradicts the idea that they are synthesised exclusively by microbial symbionts. The paper describes how one cytokinin, kinetin, is associated with plant DNA and appears to be synthesised as a secondary product of DNA oxidation. There is much data in the literature indicating that oxidative metabolism may be the source of many cytokinins in plants.