[The influence of kinetin on the caffeine content of Coffea leaves]

Kinetin induces an increase in the caffeine content of Coffea leaves of up to 40% of the normal level. The effect is most pronounced in young leaves; it is, however, transient. After six days in old leaves and after 12 days in young leaves, the caffeine content has decreased to its normal level.The results are discussed in relation to the recently discovered fact that cytokinins kinins are constituents of rare nucleotides of seryl-t-RNA. It seems plausible that the methylations necessary in the synthesis of caffeine are linked with this primary function of cytokinins.