The results of the present study provide a basis for further investigation of the regulatory roles of transcription factors in abiotic stress response and cytokinin signal transduction. The present study identified a senescence-related gene, AtMYBL, a putative novel MYB-like transcription factor in Arabidopsis, which contains two predicted DNA-binding domains. Analyses of an AtMYBL promoter-β-glucuronidase (GUS) construct revealed substantial gene expression in old leaves and induced GUS activity by abscisic acid and salt stress. AtMYBL-overexpressing plants displayed a markedly enhanced leaf senescence phenotype, significantly influential in senescence parameters including chlorophyll content, membrane ion leakage, and expression of senescence-related genes. Although the seed germination rate was improved under abscisic acid and saline stress conditions in the AtMYBL-overexpressing plants, decreased salt tolerance was evident compared with the wild-type and atmybl RNA interference lines during later seedling growth when exposed to long-term salt stress, indicating that AtMYBL protein is able to developmentally-regulated stress sensitivity. Furthermore, AtMYBL protein activated the transcription of a reporter gene in yeast. Green fluorescent protein-tagged AtMYBL was localized in the nuclei of transgenic Arabidopsis cells. Taken together, these results suggest that AtMYBL functions in the leaf senescence process, with the abiotic stress response implicated as a putative potential transcription factor. Cytokinins are a class of plant-specific hormones that play a role in regulating the root and shoot developmental programs. However, the mechanism of cytokinin-regulated genes in these processes is not determined in depth. Here, we identify one gene, AtSKIP, associated with cytokinin-regulated root and leaf growth process in Arabidopsis. Spatial pattern of PROAtSKIP-GUS activity indicated that AtSKIP specially expressed in the leaf primordial, root meristem region, and root vascular system, and can be activated by the light. Ectopic expression of AtSKIP conferred Arabidopsis enhanced leaf development but suppressed root elongation, while AtSKIPDD seedlings displayed retarded leaf growth and normal root length. Meanwhile, the leaf development in AtSKIP seedlings is independent of light but promoted by cytokinin, hinting that the contribution of AtSKIP to leaf development in photomorphogenesis is dependent on cytokinin signaling. Moreover, AtSKIP cells displayed enhanced sensitivity to cytokinin in callus induction/greening assay, and different PROARR7-GUS activity further proved that expression of AtSKIP or AtSKIPDD altered endogenous cytokinin signaling in plants. Together, these data elucidate AtSKIP participate in cytokinin-regulated promotion of leaf growth and inhibition of root elongation.