Structure-activity relationships of N-phenyl-N′-benzothiazol-6-ylurea synthetic derivatives: Cytokinin-like activity and adventitious rooting enhancement

► N-phenyl-N′-benzothiazol-6-ylurea (PBU) interacts with the cytokinin receptor CRE1/AHK4. ► The structural changes in the PBU derivatives cancel the cytokinin-like activity. ► Among the PBU derivatives only the symmetric ureas/thioureas enhance adventitious rooting.