Changes in cytokinin-like substances in the normal and rudimentary ovaries of Citrus aurantifolia

The total cytokinin activity in the rudimentary ovaries of Citrus aurantifolia was markedly lower than that of the normal well developed ovaries. Further, the concentrations of the cytokinins which behaved like zeatin (Z), zeal in riboside (ZR), isopentenyl adenine (iP) and isopentenyl adenosine (iPA), and of the two unidentified substances with the elution volumes of 200-400ml and 120-280ml from the butanol-soluble fractions, respectively, after sephadex LH-20 column chromatography were also lower in the rudimentary ovaries. Tentative identification of Z, ZR, iP and iPA was done based on their behaviour in sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. The significance of the differences in the cytokinin like substances of the two types of ovaries is discussed in the context of their known physiological role.