6Benzylaminopurine

6-benzylaminopurine, commonly abbreviated as BA or BAP, is a synthetic cytokinin plant growth regulator. It is a purine derivative in which a benzylamino group is attached at the 6-position of the purine ring. BA is one of the most widely used cytokinins in plant tissue culture and micropropagation.

BA promotes cell division and shoot formation by acting as a cytokinin, binding to cytokinin receptors and triggering signaling pathways that alter gene expression related to cell proliferation and shoot meristem development. It often works in concert with auxins to influence organogenesis, with higher cytokinin to auxin ratios favoring shoot proliferation and higher auxin to cytokinin ratios promoting root formation or callus.

In practical use, BA is employed to efficiently regenerate shoots from explants such as shoot tips, leaves, or nodal segments and to multiply plant material in vitro. It is commonly included in culture media formulations at micromolar concentrations and is frequently used alongside other growth regulators such as auxins to control the balance between proliferation and differentiation. BA can also delay leaf senescence and prolong the shelf life of detached plant tissues in some species.

Responses to BA are species- and genotype-dependent and can vary with concentration and duration of exposure. Excessive cytokinin levels can cause abnormal growth or vitrification. BA is predominantly used in laboratory and horticultural settings for controlled propagation and research rather than as a field-grade agricultural treatment.

BA is readily available from scientific suppliers for research and propagation work and is typically stored according to supplier recommendations.