Cytokinin signaling mediated by KMD2 promotes Arabidopsis hypocotyl grafting success

Grafting and adventitious root formation are plant regeneration mechanisms used in horticulture. In grafting, a scion (shoot) of one plant is joined to a stock (root) of another plant through vascular reconnection. Adventitious roots arise from above-ground plant tissue, and graft failure occurs when the scion develops adventitious roots. The molecular mechanisms underlying grafting success and adventitious root formation are unclear. We developed a hypocotyl grafting approach to determine regulators involved in grafting success vs adventitious root formation. We suggest that reduced cytokinin signaling by the F-box protein, KISS ME DEADLY2 (KMD2, AT1G15670), promotes adventitious root formation over successful grafting. .