The effect of stratification on endogenous cytokinin levels in seeds of Acer saccharum

Abstract

Stratification of sugar maple seed resulted in high levels of cytokinins after 20 days. A further increase in the chilling period led to a decrease in cytokinins. Most of the cytokinin activity detected was due to compound(s) that co-chromatographed with zeatin. It is concluded that this increase in cytokinins may result in the breaking of dormancy, perhaps by overcoming the effect of endogenous inhibitors.