EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Zeatin is a cytokinin-like substance isolated and crystallised by Letham (1963-65) from milky endosperm of corn (Zea mays). It also occurs in coconut milk. Yabuta and Sumiki (1938) isolated a chemical substance from the cultural filtrate of fungus Gibberella fujikurol in crystalline form and named it gibberellic acid .

Detailed explanation-2: -Zeatin is a plant growth hormone in the cytokinin family. It consists of a purine ring structure with a side chain that contains hydroxyl, amino, and olefin groups. It was discovered in the corn genus Zea, for which it is named.

Detailed explanation-3: -The enzyme UDPglucose:zeatin O-glucosyltransferase (EC 2.4. 1.203) was previously isolated from Phaseolus lunatus seeds.

Detailed explanation-4: -This active compound was named as Kinetin because of its ability to promote cell division and was the first cytokinin to be named. Kinetin was later identified to be 6-furfuryl-amino purine. Later on, the generic name kinin was suggested to include kinetin and other substances having similar properties.

Detailed explanation-5: -Later, zeatin was identified as the first naturally occurring cytokinin in immature maize endosperm (Letham, 1973), and turns out to be the abundant cytokinin in coconut milk.