6-Benzyladenine (6Bap)

6-Benzyladenine (6-BAP), or Benzylaminopurine, is an artificial cytokinin used extensively in plant tissue culture and horticulture to induce cell division, shoot multiplication, and retardation of senescence. 6-BAP is a purine derivative acting as an analogue of the natural cytokinin to induce quick plant growth and regeneration.

6-BAP is an essential ingredient of plant tissue culture regeneration medium when axillary shoot proliferation is needed. It is typically incorporated into Murashige and Skoog or basic medium preparations to promote axillary shoots from explants or meristematic tissues. At optimal concentration, it facilitates effective propagation of crops like orchids, bananas, sugarcane, tomatoes, and most ornamentals.

Apart from micropropagation, 6-BAP is applied in agriculture and floriculture for enhancing crop uniformity, fruit set, and shelf life of fruit during storage. It is specifically applied in leaf yellowing prevention, flowering induction, and fruit retention promotion in cotton, apples, and citrus fruits.

This compound is most often in powder form and soluble in alkali solutions, ethanol, or DMSO. It would be applied at very low concentrations (mg/L level) and freshly prepared to guarantee its bioactivity. Plant species, growth stage, and environmental conditions influence its efficacy.

6-BAP is used in molecular biology research of cytokinin signalling pathways and their effects on plant morphogenesis. Due to its ability to influence genetic expression, it may be employed as an instrument in plant development research.

Owing to its stability, effectiveness, and general versatility, 6-Benzyladenine is still a standard cytokinin in the research laboratory and propagation units of industrial crops.