Changes in Cytokinins and Gibberellin-Like Substances in Pinus radiata Buds during Lateral Shoot Initiation and the Characterization of Ribosyl Zeatin and a Novel Ribosyl Zeatin Glycoside

Based on detection and quantitation by bioassay, endogenous gibberellin-like substances (GAs) and cytokinins (CKs) in Pinus radiata D. Don buds during sequential shoot initiation shift from less polar to more polar forms (GAs) and from conjugated to free forms (CKs). As the terminal bud moves from the production of “short shoots” (needle fascicles) to “long shoots” (lateral branches or female conebuds), a more polar GA appears while a glucoside-conjugate of zeatin riboside is reduced, and zeatin riboside levels increase markedly.