[Cytokinins and photosynthesis]

Almost six decades of studies explained many aspects of cytokinin complex metabolism, such as, biogenesis, degradation, signal perception and interaction with other phytohormones (mainly with auxins). A dual character of cytokinins' action on the nuclear genes (activation and repression) has been explained by recognition of the two types on nuclear receptors, which ensure a precise mechanism of self-control. Cytokinins promote the process of photosynthesis at different levels of plant- and cellular organization (development of leaves and plastids, influence on the photosynthetic proteins, activation of photosynthetic genes, etc.). An anti-senescing action of these hormones has been recently attributed to the activation of intra-cellular invertase, which suppress floem loading and change the sink-source pattern of the leaf.