On the biogenesis of cytokinins in roots of Phaseolus vulgaris

Roots of intact bean plants were supplied with [¹⁴C]adenine by pulse-chase experiments. The rate of incorporation of radioactivity into tRNA and oligonucleotides of roots as well as the content of radioactive labeled cytokinin nucleotides in these RNA fractions were determined. On the average, 1/70 of the radioactivity incorporated into tRNA was localized in N⁶(²isopentenyl)adenosine. The half life of tRNA was estimated to be 65–70 h. Shortly after the pulse period, oligonucleotides contained zeatin riboside at a ratio of 1:800, on the basis of radioactivity. The half life of these oligonucleotides was determined to be about 8 h. The main free radioactive cytokinin of roots and leaves was zeatin. Comparing the rate of degradation of ¹⁴C-labeled tRNA and the oligonucleotides of roots and the rate of appearance of radioactive cytokinins in roots and leaves, we found strong indications for their dependency. The results contradict the hypothesis of de novo synthesis of cytokinins in roots of intact bean plants.Abbreviations AMP adenosine monophosphate - IPA N⁶(²isopentenyl)adenosine - IPAde N⁶(²isopentenyl)adenosine - Z zeatin - ZR zeatinriboside - TLC thin-layer chromatography - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography Part of the doctoral thesis, Bonn 1980     

Mass-spectrometric quantification of cytokinin nucleotides and glycosides in tobacco crown-gall tissue

the cytokinins of tobacco crown-gall tissue have been analysed by quantitative mass spectrometry using ²H₂-labelled cytokinin riboside 5-monophosphates and ¹⁵N₄-labelled cytokinin glycosides as internal standards. The principal endogenous cytokinin of this tissue is zeatin riboside 5-monophosphate. The biologically inactive 7-glucoside of zeatin is the most abundant basic cytokinin in the tissue. These findings expose the limitations of previously reported analyses of similar tissues, which were restricted to biologically active basic cytokinins. The present study demonstrates that the endogenous cytokinins of tobacco crowngall tissue show a clear correspondence to the range of metabolites formed when exogenous cytokinins are supplied to nontumorous tobacco cells.Abbreviations DHZ dihydrozeatin - DHZ7G dihydrozeatin 7-glucoside - DHZMP dihydrozeatin 9-riboside 5-monophosphate - DHZR dihydrozeatin 9-riboside - GC-MS coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry - HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography - Z7G zeatin 7-glucoside - Z9G zeatin 9-glucoside - ZOG zeatin O-glucoside - ZMP zeatin 9-riboside 5-monophosphate - ZR zeatin 9-riboside - ZROG zeatin 9-riboside O-glucoside     

The control of bud dormancy in potato tubers. Measurement of the seasonal pattern of changing concentrations of zeatin-cytokinins

A radioimmunoassay, combined with high-performance liquid chromatography, has been used to analyse the zeatin-type cytokinins of potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Majestic) tubers and tuber buds throughout growth and storage. During tuber growth, zeatin riboside was the predominant cytokinin detected in all tissues. Immediately after harvest, the total cytokinin concentration fell dramatically in the storage tissue, largely as a consequence of the disappearance of zeatin riboside. During storage, levels of cytokinins in the storage tissue remained relatively constant, but increased in the tuber buds. In the buds of tubers stored at 2°C there was a 20-to 50-fold increase in total cytokinin over six weeks, coinciding with the natural break of innate dormancy. At 10°C the rise in the level of bud cytokinins was slower, correlating with the longer duration of innate dormancy. Injecting unlabelled cytokinins into tubers in amounts known to induce sprouting gave rise to increases in cytokinin concentrations in the buds of the same order as the increase associated with the natural break of dormancy. Metabolism of injected cytokinins was greater in non-dormant than in dormant tubers. The roles of cytokinin concentration and the sensitivity of the buds to cytokinin in the control of dormancy are discussed.Abbreviations CK cytokinin - FW fresh weight - HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography - RIA radioimmunoassay - tio⁶ade 6-(4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-trans-2-enylamino)-purine=zeatin - tio⁶adeglc⁹ 6-(4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-trans-2-enylamino)-9--D-glucopyranosyl purine=zeatin-9-glucoside - tio⁶ado 6-(4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-trans-2-enylamino)-9--D-ribofuranosyl purine=zeatin riboside - tio⁶ado-[³H]-diol a radioactive derivative of zeatin riboside, synthesised by periodate-oxidation followed by [³H]NaBH₄-reduction - tio⁶AMP 6-(4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-trans-2-enylamino)-9--D-5-phosphoribofuranosyl purine=zeatin riboside 5-monophosphate - t(ioglc⁴)⁶ade 6-(4-O--D-glucopyranosyl-3-methylbut-trans-2-enylamino)-purine=zeatin-O-glucoside     

The effect of auxin concentration on cytokinin stability and metabolism

The stability of [³H]zeatin riboside supplied to freshly excised tobacco pith explants was found to be inversely related to -naphthaleneacetic acid concentration in the incubation medium. At higher concentrations of -naphthaleneacetic acid greater breakdown of [³H]zeatin riboside was indicated by higher levels of degradative metabolites (adenine, adenosine and adenosine nucleotides) formed. This auxin effect on cytokinin metabolism appears to be mediated, at least in part, through cytokinin oxidase. The results of in-vitro assays carried out with partially purified enzyme from corn kernels substantiale this conclusion. These findings are discussed in relation to recent observations of auxin and cytokinin levels in crown-gall tumours with altered morphology.Abbreviations FPLC fast protein liquid chromatography - HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography - IP isopentenyladenine - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid - ZR zeatin riboside     

玉米素核苷的酶标免疫测定法

牛血清白蛋白-玉米素核苷(BSA-ZR)的兔抗血清对玉米素核苷具有很高的亲和性,而且专一性强,除了玉米素外,对其它一些细胞分裂素如激动素(KT)的交叉反应甚微。用辣根过氧化物酶(HRP)作为标记物的酶标免疫法,由于它的灵敏度高,相当于几十毫克量的样品就可以测出细胞分裂素的含量。测定范围在0.25—50pmol之间,测定范围较广。由于该方法专一性高,植物组织的粗提取物可以直接用于测定。避免了提取分离的繁琐程序,使得测定方法较简便、快速,可成批进行,适用于一般实验室。用该方法测得风信子(Hyacinthus orientalis L.)各部分的细胞分裂含量(以玉米素核苷计)在10—60×10~(-9)克/克鲜重,即10—60ng/g F.W.。     

Regulators of cell division in plant tissues

[³H]zeatin was supplied through the transpiration stream to de-rooted lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) seedlings. The following previously known metabolites were identified chromatographically: 5-phosphates of zeatin riboside and dihydrozeatin riboside, adenosine-5-phosphate, zeatin riboside, zeatin-7-glucopyranoside, zeatin-9-glucopyranoside, adenine, adenosine and dihydrozeatin. Five new metabolites were purified; four of these contain an intact zeatin moiety. Two were identified unequivocally, one as l--[6-(4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-trans-2-enylamino)-purin-9-yl]alanine, a metabolite now termed lupinic acid, and the second as O--d-glucopyranosylzeatin. These two compounds were the major metabolites formed when zeatin solution (100 M) was supplied to the de-rooted seedlings. The radioactivity in the xylem sap of intact seedlings, supplied with [³H]zeatin via the roots, was largely due to zeatin, dihydrozeatin and zeatin riboside. When [³H]zeatin (5 M) was supplied via the transpiration stream to de-rooted Lupinus luteus L. seedlings, the principal metabolite in the lamina was adenosine, while in the stem nucleotides of zeatin and adenine were the dominant metabolites. O-Glucosylzeatin and lupinic acid were also detected as metabolites. The level of the latter varied greatly in the tissues of the shoot, and was greatest in the lower region of the stem and in the expanding lamina. Minor metabolites also detected chromatographically were: (a) dihydrolupinic acid, (b) a partially characterized metabolite which appears to be a 9-substituted adenine (also formed in L. angustifolius), (c) glucosides of zeatin riboside and/or dihydrozeatin riboside, and (d) O-glucosyldihydrozeatin. While lupinic acid supplied exogenously to L. luteus leaves underwent little metabolism, chromatographic studies indicated that O-glucosylzeatin was converted to its riboside, the principal metabolite formed, and also to adenosine, zeatin and dihydrozeatin. A thinlayer chromatography procedure for separating zeatin, dihydrozeatin, zeatin riboside and dihydrozeatin riboside is described.Abbreviations Me₃Si trimethylsilyl - TLC thin-layer chromatography - UV ultraviolet XXIV=Gordon et al., 1975     

Cytokinin metabolism in Phaseolus vulgaris L.

The major cytokinins in stems of decapitated, disbudded bean plants have been identified by enzymic degradation, Sephadex LH20 and reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography, and by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry as 6-(4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-trans-2-enylamino)-9--D-ribofuranosylpurine (zeatin riboside), 6-(4-hydroxy-3-methylbutylamino)-9--D-ribofuranosylpurine (dihydrozeatin riboside), and the 5-phosphates of these compounds (zeatin ribotide and dihydrozeatin ribotide). Minor cytokinins in this tissue were tentatively identified as dihydrozeatin-O--D-glucoside and zeatin ribotide-O--D-glucoside. [8-¹⁴C-]Dihydrozeatin appeared to be rapidly metabolized to dihydrozeatin ribotide when supplied to segments of stems from decapitated plants. These results are discussed in relation to the metabolism and distribution of cytokinins in the whole plant.Abbreviations TEAB triethyl ammonium bicarbonate - UV ultra-violet - GCMS gas chromatography-mass spectrometry - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - TMS trimethyl silyl     

Ribosylzeatin and zeatin in tobacco crown gall tissue

Cytokinins were extracted from two cultures of tobacco crown gall tumor tissue: an unorganized tissue and a teratoma which produced leafy shoots. On Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, extracts of both types of tissue yielded two peaks of cytokinin activity with elution volumes similar to ribosylzeatin and zeatin. Ribosylzeatin and zeatin were detected and quantified by coupled gas chromatography — mass spectrometry selected ion monitoring (GC/MS SIM), comparable quantities being found in the two extracts. Full mass spectral evidence for the presence of ribosylzeatin in both tissues was obtained. No evidence was found for the presence of N⁶-(²-isopentenyl)adenosine (i⁶Ade) or N⁶-(²-isopentenyl)adenine (i⁶Ade) although these compounds have been reported to occur in cytokinin-habituated tobacco callus tissues.Abbreviations BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - GC gas chromatography - GC/MS coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry - i⁶ Ade N⁶-(²-isopentenyl)adenine - i⁶ Ado N⁶-(²-isopentenyl)adenosine - RFE rotary film evaporation - SIM selected ion monitoring - TLC thin-layer chromatography - TMS trimethylsilyl     

Mass-spectrometric quantitation of cytokinins in tobacco crown-gall tumours induced by mutated octopine Ti plasmids of Agrobacterium tumefaciens

The levels of the major cytokinins, zeatin, zeatin riboside, zeatin riboside-5-monophosphate and zeatin-7-glucoside were measured in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) crown-gall tissues carrying insertion and deletion mutations in the T-DNA. Measurements were made by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using selected ion monitoring with ¹⁵N- and ²H-labelled internal standards. The results demonstrate that, relative to wild-type tumour tissue, cytokinin levels are considerably elevated in tissues lacking functional T-DNA auxin-biosynthetic genes. From a detailed analysis of the major cytokinin metabolites it is concluded that a reduction in the extent of cytokinin degradation via N⁶-side-chain cleavage is an important factor leading to increased cytokinin levels in these tissues.Abbreviations IAA indole-3-acetic acid - SIM selected ion monitoring - Z zeatin - [7G]Z zeatin-7-glucoside - [9R]Z zeatin-9-riboside - [9R-5P]Z zeatin riboside-5-monophosphate     

Regulators of cell division in plant tissues

The cytokinins in certain fractions prepared from extracts of immature sweet-corn (Zea mays L.) kernels using polystyrene ion-exchange resins have been further investigated. Cytokinins active in the radish cotyledon bioassay were purified from these fractions and identified as 9--D-glucopyranosylzeatin, 9--D-glucopyranosyldihydrozeatin, O--D-glucopyranosylzeatin. and O--D-glucopyranosyl-9--D-ribofuranosylzeatin. In addition, compounds which resemble zeatin and its glycosides in chromatographic behaviour and in ultraviolet absorption characteristics were purified from extracts of the same material by high-performance liquid chromatography. In addition to zeatin and zeatin riboside, the following compounds were identified unambiguously: O--D-glucopyranosyl-9--D-ribofuranosyldihydrozeatin, O--D-glucopyranosyldihydrozeatin, and hihydrozeatin riboside. A further compound was tentatively identified as O--D-glucopyranosylzeatin, and at least two unidentified compounds appeared to be new derivatives of zeatin. In identifying the above compounds, chemical-ionization mass spectrometry proved to be an invaluable complementary technique, yielding spectra showing intense protonated-molecular-ion peaks and also prominent structure-related fragmentation that was either not evident or very minor in the electron-impact spectra. An assessment of the relative importance of the various possible mechanisms for cytokinin modification and inactivation in mature sweet-corn kernels was made by supplying [³H]zeatin and [³H]zeatin riboside to such kernels after excision. The principal metabolites of zeatin were adenine nucleotides, adenosine and adenine, while little of the metabolite radioactivity was attributable to known O-glucosides. Adenine nucleotides and adenine were the principal metabolites of zeatin riboside, while lesser metabolites were identified as adenosine, dihydrozeatin, and the O-glucosides of dihydrozeatin and dihydrozeatin riboside. Side-chain cleavage, rather than side-chain modification, appears to be the dominant form of cytokinin metabolism in mature sweet-corn kernels.Abbreviations CI-MS chemical-ionization mass spectrum - EIMS electron-impact mass spectrum - GC-MS combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - M⁺ molecular ion - MH⁺ protonated molecular ion - TLC thin-layer chromatography - TMS trimethylsilyl - UV ultraviolet XXVII=Letham et al. (1979)     

Cytokinins in pathogenesis and disease resistance of Pyrenophora teres-barley and Dreschslera maydis-maize interactions during early stages of infection

Infection of Hordeum vulgare L. by Pyrenophora teresand of Zea mays by Dreschslera maydis were characterized by green island formation, higher cytokinin levels and accumulation of metabolites in the infected areas. Higher cytokinin concentrations of the order 6-Y,Y-dimethylallylaminopurine > zeatinriboside > zeatin >dihydrozeatinriboside were detected at infection sites of susceptible hosts. By virtue of these cytokinins, infection sites may be acting as metabolic sinks helping proliferation of the pathogen. Existence of translocatory sinks at infection zones was confirmed from autoradiographic studies,where, accumulation of labeled metabolites was prominent at infection sites of susceptible hosts. Upon infection the lower cytokinin levels of resistant hosts decreased further with progress of infection. In the infected resistant hosts the concentrations of zeatin/zeatinriboside were the maximum among the four identified cytokinins. The pathogen is also capable of secreting cytokinins as evident from quantification of cytokinins in culture filtrate extracts using HPLC. Since detached leaves were used in the experiments the increase/decrease of various cytokinin levels may be attributed to pathogen influence. The increase in cytokinin levels in the susceptible host may be aiding the growth of the pathogen on one hand, while the decrease in the infected resistant host may signal the host to activate defenses against a potential pathogen at the early stage of infection.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Production of solamargine by in vitro cultures of Solanum paludosum

Callus cultures of Solanum paludosum were established from roots, hypocotyles, cotyledons and leaf limbs of plantlets cultivated in sterile conditions on a Murashige and Skoog's modified medium. Non organogenous calluses were obtained with addition of BA or kinetin (10^-5M to 10^-6M) as the cytokinin and 2,4-d or NAA (10^-5M to 10^-6M) as the auxin. These calluses permitted the establishment of a cell suspension culture with BA (10-6M) and 2,4-d (10^-6M). Zeatin (10^-6M) with IAA (10^-6M) gave rise to organogenous calluses. These organogenous callus cultures developed multiple shoots which either proliferated if they were cultivated on a medium containing zeatin with IAA or IBA or were able to regenerate into whole plants when zeatin was used as the only hormone. The different plant material produced solamargine, the main steroidal glycoalkaloid present in the unripe fruits. The best production was obtained with the fruits of regenerated plants from organogenous callus cultures after reintroduction of these plants in their brasilian biotope. The solamargine content of the two types of plant materials was about 0.06% and 2.5% (dry weight) respectively for the callus cultures and the fruits from in vitro plants. The fruits were harvested a year after the beginning of the plantlet regeneration step.Abbreviations HPTLC high performance thin layer chromatography - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - BA benzylaminopurine - IAA 3-indolebutyric acid - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - IBA 3-indolebutyric acid - IPA isopentenyladenine     

Relations between auxin and cytokinin contents and in vitro rooting of tree Peony (Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.)

In this work, a combined HPLC-ELISA technique was used to associate in vitro rooting capacity of tree peony micro-cuttings with contents of cytokinin and auxin; the cytokinin mainly detected corresponded to the N⁶-benzyladenine which had been added to the multiplication medium. Rooting capacity of explants was favoured by a preliminary accumulation of endogenous IAA only when levels of the BA absorbed from the multiplication medium had decreased. Main shoots coming from a 5-weeks subculture fulfilled these hormonal conditions and were the best microcuttings for rooting (87% rooting). Main shoots coming from shorter cycles or axillary shoots coming from a 5-weeks cycle always contained high benzyladenine levels and had a low rooting capacity (25–55% rooting). Root induction was associated with an early peak of indole-3-acetic acid followed by a 10-fold lower peak of endogenous ribofuranosyl-isopentenyladenine. Only a low and transitory accumulation of isopentenyladenine occurred during root development, and this could explain the lack of shoot development. Root development was efficient, especially in a medium containing activated charcoal, which led to an almost 3-fold decrease of IAA contents in roots.Abbreviations AC activated charcoal - BA N⁶-benzyladenine - ELISA enzyme linked immunosorbent assay - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - IBA indole-3-butyric acid - iP N⁶-(²-isopentenyl)adenine - RDM root development medium - RIM root induction medium - 9RIP 9--d-ribofuranosyl-iP - 9RZ 9--d ribofuranosyl-zeatin - Z zeatin     

Dihydrozeatin riboside,a minor cytokinin from the leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Dihydrozeatin riboside has been identified in the leaves of decapitated bean plants by Sephadex LH20 chromatography and combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The relationship between the cytokinins isolated and identified from this system and those previously reported in Phaseolus is discussed.Abbreviations DHZ dihydrozeatin - DHZOG dihydrozeatin-O--D-glucoside - DHZR dihydrozeatin riboside - GCMS combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry - GLC gas-liquid chromatography - TIC total ion current - TMS trimethylsilyl - Z zeatin - ZR zeatin riboside     

Identification by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of phaseic acid and dihydrophaseic acid and characterization of further abscisic acid metabolites in pea seedlings

Seven day old seedlings of Pisum sativum L., cv. Kleine Rheinländerin, were wilted for 3 days. After partially removing the roots, they were rewatered and at the same time radioactive abscisic acid([1-¹⁴C]ABA, spec. activity 1.7·10⁸d s^-1mmol^-1) was applied for 1 h via the xylem of the roots. After 24 h, 4 days, and 12 days the seedlings were extracted and the metabolites of ABA were analyzed by means of thin-layer and gas chromatography in combination with mass spectrometry, autoradiography, and scintillation counting. Phaseic acid (PA) and dihydrophaseic acid (DPA) were identified as metabolites of ABA. The presence of another ABA-metabolite was also demonstrated. From its mass spectrum it has been postulated that this metabolite is 4-desoxy-ABA. In addition to these substances, several other metabolites, which are more polar than ABA and its known degradation products, were present in the seedlings. The quantity and number of these unknown metabolites increased with time.Abbreviations ABA abscisic acid - PA phaseic acid - DPA dihydrophaseic acid - TLC thin-layer chromatography - GC gas chromatography - PPO 2,5-diphenyloxazole - POPOP 2,2-p-phenylen bis(5-phenyloxazole)     

The stability and biological activity of cytokinin metabolites in soybean callus tissue

The activity, uptake and metabolism of cytokinin metabolites was determined in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) callus tissue. The following activity sequence was established: zeatin riboside (ZR)>zeatin (Z)>O-glucosides of Z, ZR and their dihydro derivatives>lupinic acid (an alanine conjugate of Z)>7- and 9-glucosides of Z which were almost inactive. The 7- and 9-glucosides and lupinic acid were taken up very slowly by the callus tissue and showed great metabolic stability, but some degradation to 7-glucosyladenine, 9-glucosyladenine and the 9-alanine conjugate of adenine occurred. Compared with its aglycone, O-glucosyl-ZR exhibited slow uptake and greatly enhanced stability but gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis showed that appreciable amounts were hydrolyzed to ZR in the tissue. Both ZR and O-glucosyl-ZR were metabolised extensively, with adenine, adenosine, and adenine nucleotide(s) as the major metabolites. A diversity of minor metabolites of ZR were identified, including O-glucosides, lupinic acid and dihydrolupinic acid. The metabolism of ZR was suppressed by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. When compared with the soybean callus line normally used for cytokinin bioassays (cv. Acme, cotyledonary callus), related callus lines exhibited greatly differing growth responses to cytokinin: however, these were not reflected in marked differences in metabolism.Abbreviations GC-MS gas chromatography-mass spectrometry - HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography - LA lupinic acid - OGZR O--D-glucopyranosylzeatin riboside - TLC thin-layer chromatography - IMX 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine - Z zeatin - ZR zeatin riboside     

Uridine 5′-diphospho-D-glucose-dependent vectorial sucrose synthesis in tonoplast vesicles of the storage hypocotyl of red beet (Beta vulgaris L. ssp. conditiva)

Tonoplast vesicles were prepared from red-beet (Beta vulgaris L. ssp. conditiva) hypocotyl tubers (beetroot) known to store sucrose. Uptake experiments, employing uridine 5-diphospho-[¹⁴C]glucose (UDP-[¹⁴C]glucose) showed the operation of an UDP-glucose-dependent group translocator for vectorial synthesis and accumulation of sucrose, recently described for sugarcane and red-beet vacuoles and for tonoplast vesicles prepared from sugarcane suspension cells. Characterization of the kinetic properties yielded the following results. Uptake of UDP-glucose was linear for 15 min. The apparent K _m was 0.75 mM for UDP-glucose (at pH 7.2, 1 mM Mg²⁺), V _max was 32 nmol·(mg protein)^-1·min^-1. The incorporation of UDP-glucose exhibited a sigmoidal substrate-saturation curve in the absence of Mg²⁺, the Hill coefficient (n _H) was 1.33; Michaelis-Menten kinetics were obtained, however, in the presence of 1 mM MgCl₂. For the reaction sequence under the control of the group translocator a dual pH optimum was found at pH 7.2 and 7.9, respectively. All reaction intermediates and the end product sucrose could be identified by two-dimensional high-performance thin-layer chromatography and autoradiography. The distribution pattern of radioactivity showed almost uniformly high labeling of all intermediates and sucrose. The physiological relevance of the results is discussed in the light of the fact that the tonoplast of red-beet storage cells accommodates two mechanisms of sucrose uptake (i) vectorial sucrose synthesis and (ii) direct ATP-dependent sucrose assimilation.Abbreviations HPTLC High-performance thin-layer chromatography - UDP uridine 5-diphosphate - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate     

Cultural behavior of protoplasts from different organs of eggplant (solanum melongena L.), and plant regeneration

Plants of Solanum melongena were propagated under in vitro conditions (27°C, 12h/day illumination at 62 Em^-2s^-1, 60% humidity) by subculture of terminal and lateral cuttings on MS medium +20 gl^-1 sucrose + Morel and Wetmore vitamins at 1/8 strength and 7 gl^-1 agar. Lamina, petioles and stems of 3-week-old cuttings were used as sources of protoplasts. The best mean yield of protoplasts was obtained from the lamina with 9,030×10³ protoplasts per gram of tissue. Petioles and stems yielded respectively 3,144×10³ and 1,220.4×10³ protoplasts per gram of tissue. first division of petiole and stem protoplasts occurred within 48 h, while lamina protoplasts underwent division after 3–4 days of culture in KM8p medium +2,4-D(0.2 gl^-1) + zeatin (0.5 mgl^-1) + NAA (1 mgl^-1) and 0.35M glucose as osmoticum. The highest percentage of dividing cells was obtained from petiole material, estimated at 33.4% after 7 days, compared to 23.8% and 19.4% respectively for stem and lamina protoplasts. When BAP replaced zeatin in KM8p, the division percentage of lamina protoplasts was reduced to 10–15%. When transferred to regeneration medium, all calli derived from KM8p + zeatin formed deep-green spots identified as embryo-like structures, while only few calli from KM8p + BAP underwent shoot organogenesis without formation of green spots. Some of embryo-like structure developed into plantlets with a frequency of 1–2 plantlets per callus especially on MS medium + zeatin (4 mgl^-1) + IAA (0.2 mgl^-1). Maintaining protoplast-derived calli on MS + BAP (0.5 mgl^-1) + NAA (0.5 mgl^-1) for more than 3 weeks resulted in a decrease and loss of cell totipotency.Abbreviations (IAA) Indol-3-acetic acid - (2,4-D) 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - (NAA) naphthale-neacetic - (BAP) 6-benzylaminopurine - (MS) Murashige and Skoog basal medium - (CPW) Cell and Protoplast Washing solution     

Plant regeneration from cotyledon protoplasts of Brassica carinata

Protoplasts isolated from cotyledons of Brassica carinata, underwent sustained division when cultured at 5.0 × 10⁴ ml^-1 in modified 8p medium (KM8P) with 1.0% (w/v) Seaplaque agarose. Cell colonies produced callus when agarose droplets, in which the protoplasts were embedded, were transferred to K8 medium with 0.6% (w/v) Sigma Type I or Type VII agarose at day 16, giving a plating efficiency of 1.6%. Seventy percent of the protoplast derived-tissues produced shoot buds after subculture to MS medium containing 3.0% (w/v) sucrose, 1.125 mgl^-1 BAP, 0.035 mgl^-1 GA and 0.6% (w/v) Type I agarose, resulting in shoot formation from 1.1% of the protoplasts originally plated. Protoplast-derived colonies transferred to hormone-free MS medium with 1.0% (w/v) sucrose and 0.6% (w/v) Type I agarose produced roots. The latter gave rise to shoots after excision from the parent callus and culture on MS medium with 3.0% sucrose, 0.225 mgl^-1 BAP, and 0.6% (w/v) Type I agarose. Shoots regenerated directly from protoplast-derived calli, or indirectly from roots, developed prolific root systems when placed on hormone-free MS medium with 1.0% (w/v) sucrose and 0.6% (w/v) Type I agarose.Abbreviations BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - CH casein hydrolysate - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - GA gibberellic acid - K kinetin - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - MES 2(N-morpholino)ethanesulphonic acid, 2,iP-6(,-dimethylallyamino) purine - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - Z zeatin - ZR zeatin riboside     

Cytokinin modification of metabolism of p-coumaric acid by a cell suspension of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill)

Cells of a soybean tissue strain suspended in an aerated liquid medium caused the disappearance of p-coumaric acid from the medium. The rate of disappearance was modified by cytokinins. When the coumarate and the cytokinin were added to the medium simultaneously, disappearance was increased if the cytokinin was used in the concentration range from 0.05 to 50 M; higher concentrations inhibited the disappearance. If, however, the cytokinin was added at the beginning of the shaking period (for aeration) and the coumarate added 1 h later, the results were more complex. With this procedure, cytokinins at concentrations from 0.0005 to about 1 M inhibited, at 50 M they promoted, and at higher concentrations they inhibited the coumarate disappearance. The promotion was elicited by zeatin, ribosylzeatin, kinetin, 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), by BAP substituted at the 9-position by methyl, methoxymethyl, cyclohexyl or tetrahydropyran-2-yl groups, by adenine with the amino group substituted by methyl, dimethyl, n-propyl, n-pentyl or n-hexyl groups, by 1,3-diphenylurea and nicotinamide, all at about 50 M. Adenine and benzimidazole were not effective. The promotion was detected in as little as 12 min. The delayed inhibitory effect required the presence of the cytokinin during the 1 h of shaking before the coumarate was added. This effect was elicited by zeatin, ribosylzeatin, kinetin, BAP, the aforementioned 9-substituted-BAP compounds, 9-glucosyl-BAP, 7-glucosyl-BAP, and 6-isopentenylaminopurine and its ribonucleoside. It was not caused by adenine, cis-ribosylzeatin, diphenylurea, benzimidazole, 6-methylaminopurine, 6,6-dimethylaminopurine or nicotinamide. The chemical specificity for this effect was much the same as that known for promotion of cell division in the soybean tissue.Abbreviations BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid