Differences and Applications of Zeatin Trans-Zeatin and Trans-Zeatin Riboside

Zeatin (ZT): Zeatin promotes cell division and can affect other stages of the cell cycle. Its functions include inhibiting chlorophyll and protein degradation, slowing respiration, maintaining cell vitality, delaying plant senescence, reversing toxic effects on leaves, inhibiting root formation, and promoting shoot formation at high concentrations.

Trans-Zeatin (Tz): Has a wide range of functions, promoting microbial cell division and spore growth at plant wound sites, exhibiting broad growth-promoting effects.

Trans-Zeatin Riboside (tZR): Also promotes lateral bud growth, stimulates cell differentiation, promotes callus and seed germination, prevents leaf senescence, reverses toxic damage to buds, and inhibits excessive root formation.

Main Functions

Zeatin, ZT:

1. Promotes cell division, primarily cytoplasmic division;

2. Promotes bud differentiation; in tissue culture, it interacts with auxin to control root and bud differentiation;

3. Promotes lateral bud development, eliminating apical dominance, leading to a large number of adventitious buds in tissue culture;

4. Delays leaf senescence, slowing the degradation rate of chlorophyll and protein;

5. Breaks seed dormancy, replacing light to meet the needs of light-demanding seeds such as tobacco;

6. Induces parthenocarpy in some fruits;

7. Promotes bud formation: It can promote bud formation at leaf cuts and in some mosses;

8. Stimulates potato tuber formation.

Trans-Zeatin, tZ: Contains only the trans structure, with the same function as zeatin, but with stronger activity.

Trans-Zeatin Riboside, tZR: Its effects are very similar to Trans-Zeatin, tZ, possessing not only the effects of Zeatin mentioned above, but also activating gene expression and metabolic activity.

Usage:

Zeatin, ZT:

1. Promotes callus germination (must be used in combination with auxin), concentration 1 mg/L.

2. Promotes fruit setting, Zeatin 100 mg/L + GA3 500 mg/L + NAA 201 mg/L, spray on fruit 10, 25, and 40 days after flowering.

3. Leafy vegetables, spraying at 201 mg/L can delay leaf yellowing. Additionally, treatment of some crop seeds can promote germination; seedling treatment promotes growth.


Trans-Zeatin, tZ:

1. Promotes callus germination (must be used in combination with auxin), concentration 1 ppm;

2. Promotes fruit setting, Zeatin 100 ppm + GA3 500 ppm + NAA 20 ppm, spray on fruit 10, 25, and 40 days after flowering;

3. Delays yellowing of vegetable leaves, spray at 20 ppm;

Trans-Zeatin Riboside (tZR):
1. In plant tissue culture, the commonly used concentration of Trans-Zeatin Riboside is 1 mg/mL or higher.

2. In plant growth regulation, the concentration of Trans-Zeatin Riboside is typically 1 ppm to 100 ppm, depending on the specific application and plant species. For example, when promoting callus germination, a concentration of 1 ppm is used, and it needs to be used in conjunction with auxins.

3. Dissolve the Trans-Zeatin Riboside powder thoroughly in 2–5 mL of 1 M NaOH (or 1 M acetic acid or 1 M KOH), then add double-distilled water or ultrapure water to prepare a stock solution with a concentration of 1 mg/mL or higher, stirring constantly while adding water to ensure thorough mixing. Aliquot the stock solution and freeze, avoiding repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Dilute the stock solution to the required concentration using the culture medium. Prepare the working solution fresh each time.


Applications:
Zeatin (ZT): Widely used in plant tissue culture and crop cultivation as a plant growth regulator to promote plant growth and development.

Trans-Zeatin (tZ): Also widely used in scientific research and crop cultivation due to its broad bioactivity, suitable for various plant growth regulation needs.

Trans-Zeatin Riboside (tZR): Plays an important role in plant growth regulation and is widely used in scientific research and agricultural production.