Cytokinins (CKs) are a class of phytohormones identified in the early 1960s and are mainly responsible for stimulating cell division. Following the discovery, research to help understand the pluralistic roles of CKs in plant growth and stress biology increased. With their fascinating ability, CKs serve as an important element in regulating the defense–growth trade-off. Herein, we demonstrate how the CK fine-tuning the organogenesis of different parts of horticultural plants is discussed. CK’s role in tailoring reproductive biology (flowering, sex differentiation, fruit set, and fruit attributes) has been presented. An extensive explanation of the CK-mediated response of horticultural crops to abiotic (temperature, drought, and salinity) and biotic stresses (fungal, bacterial, and nematodes) is provided. Finally, we posit the unexplored roles of CKs and highlight the research gaps worth addressing.

The three-amino-loop-extension (TALE) family involves key transcription factors vital for maintaining different aspects of growth including leaf, flower, and fruit development and responses to stressful stimulus. Thus far, a deep understanding of the TALE gene family in wax gourd subjected to low calcium and magnesium stress has been missing. Here, we isolated 24 BhTALE genes from a wax gourd genome database. Comprehensive bioinformatic analysis, including evolutionary tree, gene structures, conserved motifs, and chemical properties, provide structural and functional insights into the BhTALE gene family. Gene ontology (GO) analysis of TALE genes unveils their involvement in growth and stress responses. Promoter analysis indicates that hormones and stresses can influence the expression of BhTALE genes. Tissue-specific expression under low calcium and magnesium stress showed that BhTALE genes were more active in the leaves and roots. Notably, BhTALE7, BhTALE10, and BhTALE14 were expressed differentially in leaves under low calcium and magnesium applications. Similarly, the induced expression pattern of BhTALE4 was recorded in the roots under low calcium and magnesium applications. Our findings underscore the pivotal role of the BhTALE gene family in dealing with low calcium and magnesium stress in the wax gourd.