水稻条斑病菌pilT基因在致病性中的功能分析

【目的】本实验室前期研究发现水稻条斑病菌(Xanthomonas oryzae pv.oryzicola,Xoc)RS105菌株中pil T基因Tn5转座子插入突变体在寄主水稻上致病性明显降低,在非寄主烟草上激发过敏反应(hypersensitive response,HR)的能力也明显减弱。为了揭示pilT基因在Xoc菌株中的功能,本文进行了深入研究。【方法】本实验通过无标记双交换敲除的方法获得Xoc RS105菌株pil T基因缺失突变体RΔpilT,并对该突变体的游动性以及生物膜等表型进行了检测。【结果】与野生型RS105菌株相比,敲除突变体RΔpilT不仅在感病水稻IR24上的致病性显著降低,在非寄主烟草上产生过敏反应的能力减弱,而且突变体游动性降低,生物膜含量增加,互补子能够恢复上述缺陷至野生型水平。qRT-PCR结果显示,在RΔpil T中,hrpG、hrpX、hrcC、clp、rpfG、pilA、pilC基因表达量明显降低。【结论】Xoc中pilT为重要的毒性相关基因,其致病性与游动性和生物膜含量变化相关,并且受clp、rpfG、pilA、pilC等基因调控。pil T基因编码的Pil T蛋白是构成IV型菌毛的亚基之一,为菌体运动提供能量。本文对pilT基因的功能研究,为进一步分析IV型菌毛在Xoc中的功能提供了线索。     

Induced defence responses and protective effects on tomato against Xanthomonas vesicatoria by an aqueous extract from Solanum lycocarpum infected with Crinipellis perniciosa

This study investigated the induced defence responses and protective effects on susceptible tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) against Xanthomonas vesicatoria (Doidge) by a heat-treated aqueous extract (VLA) from dry necrotic tissue of ‘Lobeira’ (Solanum lycocarpum St. Hil.) branches infected with the fungus Crinipellis perniciosa (Stahel) compared with acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), a commercial inducer of resistance. Plantlets were sprayed with VLA and ASM and challenged 4 days later with a virulent strain of X. vesicatoria, under greenhouse conditions. The disease severity, fresh weight of shoots, the activities of phenol peroxidase (POX), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), chitinase (CHI), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), lignin deposition, and soluble phenolic contents were evaluated in the leaf tissues. Reduction of the bacterial spot severity was observed in plantlets treated with VLA which conferred 63% of the ASM protection. This protective effect and lesion reduction promoted by VLA were probably associated particularly with POX and PAL activities, lignin deposition on leaf tissues and, to a less extent, CHI activity.     

大豆斑疹病菌铁摄取因子PiuB在致病性中的作用分析

铁作为生命必需的基本元素,在细菌生长代谢过程中具有重要作用。然而,大豆斑疹病菌(Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. glycines, Xag)中编码铁摄取因子的piuB基因是否参与病原菌的铁摄取和致病性并不清楚。为解析PiuB的作用,采用同源重组策略获得了Xag的piuB基因缺失突变株(ΔpiuB),并对该突变株进行功能研究。研究表明：相较于野生型,突变株ΔpiuB在寄主大豆上的毒性和生长能力显著削弱;铁载体分泌量激增;对Fe³⁺、Cu²⁺、Zn²⁺和Mn²⁺的敏感性显著增强。此外,该突变株的H₂O₂抗性、胞外多糖产量、生物膜形成能力以及游动性等相较于野生型均显著减弱;添加外源Fe³⁺不能有效恢复ΔpiuB的上述特性;功能互补株可完全恢复ΔpiuB的缺陷性表型至野生型水平。这说明PiuB是Xag摄取Fe³⁺的潜在因子,并且是Xag在寄主大豆上致病所需的。     

核桃细菌性黑斑病菌rpfG基因的功能分析

[目的] 本研究旨在揭示核桃细菌性黑斑病菌（Xanthomonas arboricola pv.juglandis,Xaj） DW3F3中rpfG基因的生物学功能,从而为核桃细菌性黑斑病防治药剂的开发提供作用靶点。[方法] 以野油菜黄单胞菌（Xanthomonas campestris pv.campestris,Xcc）8004菌株以及水稻白叶枯病菌（Xanthomonas oryzae pv.oryzae,Xoo） PXO99^A的rpfG基因为模板序列,对Xaj野生型菌株DW3F3的基因组序列进行检索。利用同源重组技术,对Xaj中rpfG基因进行敲除,并用生物化学方法对基因缺失菌株的相关毒力因子、抗逆性进行检测。[结果] 通过同源比对,在XajDW3F3的基因组中发现了与XccrpfG、XoorpfG同源的基因,并成功获得rpfG的缺失突变株ΔrpfG。与野生型相比,突变株ΔrpfG的生物被膜形成能力仅为野生型XajDW3F3的44.58%;胞外多糖产量也由野生型的8.47 mg/mL降为5.23 mg/mL;ΔrpfG的絮凝活性增加,能使菌液变澄清;运动性实验显示ΔrpfG的运动直径比野生型增加了12.38%;胞外酶的分泌也发生了不同程度的改变,突变株分泌纤维素酶的能力极显著降低,淀粉酶活性有所提高,而分泌蛋白酶的能力未发生变化;此外rpfG缺失后,Xaj对逆境（盐、酸、SDS、硫酸铜）的耐受力降低。[结论] 结果表明rpfG基因能影响核桃细菌性黑斑病菌的致病相关性状,并赋予了细菌一定的抗逆性。     

Coronatine analogues produced by Xanthomonas campestris pv Phormiicola

Liquid cultures of Xanthomonas campestris pv phormiicola were found to contain two analogues of coronatine lacking the cyclopropane ring structure, and no trace of either coronatine or norcoronatine. The two compounds were isolated and fully characterised by NMR, MS, hydrolysis and GC of hydrolysis products, as N-coronafacoyl- -valine and N-coronafacoyl- -isoleucine. A survey of 12 strains from 10 other X. campestris pathovars did not locate another source of production of these compounds, whereas all three strains of X. campestris pv phormiicola examined produced comparable levels of both compounds. This is the first report of phytotoxins biosynthetically derived from coronafacic acid outside of the genus Pseudomonas. The implications of these findings to the biosynthesis of the cyclopropane ring structure of coronatine are discussed.     

环链虫草Cordyceps cateniannulata对番茄生长和抗氧化酶活性的影响

【目的】评估环链虫草Cordyceps cateniannulata对植物促生和植物抗氧化酶活性的影响。【方法】本研究利用浸种法将环链虫草接种于番茄植物体,在接种后的第30天和60天,通过番茄株高、根长、地上和地下部分的干鲜重指标评价其对番茄生长的影响;在接种后第10、20、30、60和90天,通过选择性培养基分析其在番茄不同组织中的生存情况,使用形态学及DNA序列比对的方法检验所分离菌株与原有菌株的一致性。在处理后的第30天,检测番茄叶片中的过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)及丙二醛(MDA)含量,观察环链虫草对番茄的抗氧化酶活性影响。【结果】环链虫草可定殖于番茄幼苗且对番茄生长有显著促进作用,菌株对植株的定殖偏好性分别为根部>茎部>叶部。酶活检测结果表明,处理组番茄叶片防御酶活性均呈显著升高的趋势,其中POD、CAT、SOD活性分别比对照增加了52.21%、75.31%和158.59%,MDA含量下降了35.15%。【结论】环链虫草可以通过浸种的方法感染并定殖番茄幼苗的根、茎、叶,促进番茄幼苗的生长并提高番茄抗氧化酶活性,具有较好的田间...     

Resistance in tomato to Xanthomonas campestris pv vesicatoria is determined by alleles of the pepper-specific avirulence gene avrBs3

Bacterial spot disease of tomato and pepper caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv vesicatoria is prevented by resistance genes in the plant that match genes for avirulence in the bacterium. Based on DNA homology to the avirulence gene avrBs3, which induces the resistance response on pepper, we have isolated another avirulence gene from X. c. vesicatoria, designated avrBs3-2. This gene differs in specificity from avrBs3 in inducing the hypersensitive response on tomato but not on pepper. Sequence analysis of the avrBs3-2 gene revealed a high degree of conservation: the 3480 by open reading frame contains an internal region of 17.5 nearly identical 102 bp repeat units that differ in their order from those present in the avrBs3 gene. The coding region is 97% identical to avrBs3 and expresses constitutively a 122 kDa protein, thus representing a natural allele of this gene. The previously isolated 1.7 kb avrBsP gene from X. c. vesicatoria is 100% identical to the corresponding avrBs3-2 sequence, indicating that these genes might be identical. Interestingly, derivatives of avrBs3-2 lacking the C-terminal region and part of the repetitive region are still able to confer incompatibility in tomato. The avrBs3-2 gene is compared with the sequence of avrBs3 derivatives generated by deletion of repeat units that also have avirulence activity on tomato. Both genes, avrBs3 and avrBs3-2, are flanked by a 62 by long inverted repeat, which prompts speculations about the origin of the members of the avrBs3 gene family.     

转鞭毛蛋白基因水稻细菌性条斑病抗性研究

该研究从生防菌枯草芽胞杆菌Bs-916中克隆了鞭毛蛋白基因,利用转基因载体pCAMBIA1300转入水稻,筛选得到98株阳性转基因植株。分子检测结果表明,有12个转基因株系可检测到目的基因的表达。随后抗病性鉴定表明,有3个转基因株系对水稻细菌性条斑病具有较高的抗性。该研究为目前水稻抗细菌性条斑病转基因研究拓宽了可应用基因资源的范围。     

Biological control of bacterial spot of tomato under field conditions at several locations in North America

Following the relatively successful biological control of bacterial speck of tomato under field conditions at several locations (Phytopathology 92 (2002) 1284), similar selection and testing strategies were employed in an effort to isolate an effective biological control agent for bacterial spot of tomato. Fifty potential biological control agents were isolated from tomato foliage in Alabama (AL) and Florida (FL) and tested under greenhouse conditions in AL for the ability to reduce the foliar severity of bacterial spot of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), which is caused by either Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria or Xanthomonas vesicatoria. Three pseudomonads that provided protection against bacterial speck also were included in the tests. The strains which were most efficacious (i.e., high mean percentage reduction) and consistent (i.e., low standard deviation) in reducing bacterial spot severity in repeated greenhouse experiments were selected for field experiments conducted over the period 1996–1998. Among these strains were Cellulomonas turbata BT1, which provided the highest mean reduction in disease severity [45.2% (SD = 21.0)], and Pseudomonas syringae Cit7 [36.4% (SD = 12.2)], which was the most consistent. Field experiments were conducted in Shorter, AL; Bradenton and Sanford, FL; Clinton, North Carolina; Wooster, Ohio; and London, Ontario, Canada. The highest mean reductions in severity of bacterial spot on foliage, averaged across all locations, were provided by P. syringae Cit7 [28.9% (SD = 11.6)] and Pseudomonas putida B56 [23.1% (SD = 7.4)]. The efficacy and consistency of P. syringae Cit7 against bacterial spot were very similar to those achieved against bacterial speck [28.3% (SD = 12.7)] (Phytopathology 92 (2002) 1284). Unfortunately, neither the bacterial strains nor the standard copper bactericides consistently reduced disease incidence on fruit.     

基于实验种群两性生命表的伊氏叶螨在番茄和龙葵上的适应性评价

【目的】伊氏叶螨是一种世界性入侵害螨,在我国的潜在危害目前尚不明确。本研究旨在明确其在我国对2种常见茄科寄主植物番茄和龙葵的适应性,为伊氏叶螨的科学防治提供理论依据。【方法】在温度(25±2)℃、相对湿度(70±5)%、光暗比L∶D=16 h∶8 h的实验室条件下,应用两性生命表方法测定伊氏叶螨在番茄和龙葵上的相关生物学参数,评估其对番茄和龙葵的适应性。【结果】取食番茄的伊氏叶螨的成螨前期为14.41 d,显著长于取食龙葵的12.08 d (p<0.05);取食番茄和龙葵时成螨均可存活20 d以上,雌成螨产卵前期分别为1.51和1.43 d。取食番茄的伊氏叶螨种群的内禀增长率、周限增长率、净增殖率、平均世代周期分别为0.17 d^-1、1.18 d^-1、37.17和21.85 d;而取食龙葵的则分别为0.19 d^-1、1.21 d^-1、34.55和18.63 d。【结论】伊氏叶螨在番茄和龙葵上均能完成完整的生活史,且对龙葵的适应度高于番茄。因此推测龙葵可能比番茄更适合作为伊氏叶螨入侵后的寄主植物。     

野油菜黄单胞菌中3-羟基脂酰ACP脱水酶FabZ的生理功能

【背景】野油菜黄单胞菌(Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, Xcc)引起十字花科植物黑腐病,在全球范围内造成经济损失,亟须深入研究其致病机理,开发新的黑腐病防控措施。细菌脂肪酸合成系统不仅为细胞膜合成提供原料,其中间代谢产物还是许多生物活性分子合成的底物,具有重要的生理功能,也是抗菌药物筛选的重要靶标。【目的】研究XccfabZ对扩散信号分子(diffusible signal factor, DSF)类信号产量、致病力、胞外酶、胞外多糖和运动性等方面的影响。【方法】利用报告菌株检测法分析了不同替换突变株的DSF类群体感应信号产量。利用同源重组原理,在DSF类信号高产菌株中获得替换突变株,利用高效液相色谱(highperformanceliquid chromatography, HPLC)法测定DSF类信号产量。利用剪叶法检测替换突变株对寄主植物甘蓝的致病力,并分析了不同菌株的胞外多糖、胞外酶和运动性差异。【结果】报告菌株检测法和HPLC法都证明大肠杆菌fabZ替换突变株(XccΔfabZ/pSRK-EcfabZ)中DSF类信号产量显著下降。...     

十字花科黑腐病菌一个新的III型效应物的鉴定

【目的】在全基因组范围内鉴定十字花科黑腐病菌Xcc 8004中新的Ⅲ型效应物(type Ⅲ secreted effector,T3SE)基因。【方法】通过构建与AvrBs1_59-445整合的Tn5转座子系统,进行文库筛选。在avrBs1缺失突变体背景下生成突变文库,在辣椒ECW-10R上进一步筛选。【结果】大规模HR测定筛选出7个具有明显过敏反应(hypersensitive response,HR)的克隆。通过质粒拯救和测序发现除了插入已知T3SE基因的3个突变体外,还鉴定了一个位于XC_0438和XC_0439之间且在Xcc 8004中未注释的新基因。结合生物信息学,我们将其命名为一个新的基因XC_0438a。易位实验证实XC_0438a信号区可引导报告蛋白AvrBs1的分泌和易位,并诱导辣椒ECW-10R产生HR反应。β-葡萄糖醛酸酶(β-glucuronidase,GUS)活性测定,XC_0438a在基本培养基中诱导表达,并由关键调控蛋白HrpG和HrpX激活。然而,在我们的实验条件下,XC_0438a对Xcc的致病力没有显著的贡献。【结论】我们鉴定了一种新的依赖于Ⅲ型分泌系统的效应基因XC_0438a。     

链霉菌的功能及其在农业上的应用

链霉菌是自然界中大量存在的一类微生物,具有多种多样的功能,其基内菌丝多核有间隔,气生菌丝上附着孢子链,从孢子萌发到孢子释放完成整个生命周期。链霉菌以菌丝体的形式定殖于多种植物体的根、茎、叶等部位而发挥功能,能分泌多种具有促进植物生长与生物防治功能的代谢物。对近几年链霉菌在提升植物营养吸收、促进植物生长、增强植物应对逆境能力、改善土壤结构、恢复污染水体等方面的研究进行了综述,并对今后链霉菌的研究方向和应用前景进行了展望。     

Morphological and molecular characterization of somatic hybrid plants between Lycopersicon esculentum and Solanum nigrum

Summary Mesophyll protoplasts of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. var. cerasiforme) and of an atrazine-resistant biotype of black nightshade, (Solanum nigrum L.), were fused by using polyethylene glycol/dimethyl sulfoxide (PEG/DMSO) solution and three somatic hybrid plants, each derived from a separate callus, were recovered. A twostep selection system was used: (1) protoplast culture medium (modified 8E) in which only tomato protoplasts formed calluses; and (2) regeneration medium (MS2Z) on which only S. nigrum calluses produced shoots. These selective steps were augmented by early isozyme analysis of putative hybrid shoots still in vitro. Phosphoglucoisomerase (PGI) and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) mapped to five loci on four chromosomes in tomato confirmed the hybrid nature of the nuclei of regenerated shoots. The somatic hybrid plants had simple leaves, and intermediate flower and bud morphology, but anthesis was reduced to 5% due to premature bud abscission and the pollen grains were non-viable. Southern DNA blot hybridization using a pea 45 S ribosomal RNA gene probe reconfirmed the hybrid nature of the nuclear genome of the three plants. A ³²P-labeled probe of Oenothera chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) hybridized to cpDNA restricted with EcoRI or EcoRV indicated the presence of the tomato cpDNA pattern in all three hybrids. Likewise, the plants were all found to be atrazine sensitive. Analysis with two mitochondrial (mt)DNA-specific probes, maize cytochrome oxidase subunit II and PmtSylSa8 from Nicotiana sylvestris, showed that, in addition to typical mitochondrial rearrangements, specific bands of both parents were present or missing in each somatic hybrid plant.Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Article No. 12433     

Integrated biological control of bacterial speck and spot of tomato under field conditions using foliar biological control agents and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria

Integration of foliar bacterial biological control agents and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) was investigated to determine whether biological control of bacterial speck of tomato, caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, and bacterial spot of tomato, caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria and Xanthomonas vesicatoria, could be improved. Three foliar biological control agents and two selected PGPR strains were employed in pairwise combinations. The foliar biological control agents had previously demonstrated moderate control of bacterial speck or bacterial spot when applied as foliar sprays. The PGPR strains were selected in this study based on their capacity to induce resistance against bacterial speck when applied as seed and soil treatments in the greenhouse. Field trials were conducted in Alabama, Florida, and California for evaluation of the efficacy in control of bacterial speck and in Alabama and Florida for control of bacterial spot. The foliar biological control agent P. syringae strain Cit7 was the most effective of the three foliar biological control agents, providing significant suppression of bacterial speck in all field trials and bacterial spot in two out of three field trials. When applied as a seed treatment and soil drench, PGPR strain Pseudomonas fluorescens 89B-61 significantly reduced foliar severity of bacterial speck in the field trial in California and in three of six disease ratings in the field trials in Alabama. PGPR strains 89B-61 and Bacillus pumilus SE34 both provided significant suppression of bacterial spot in the two field trials conducted in Alabama. Combined use of foliar biological control agent Cit7 and PGPR strain 89B-61 provided significant control of bacterial speck and spot of tomato in each trial. In one field trial, control was enhanced significantly with combined biological control agents compared to single agent inoculations. These results suggest that some PGPR strains may induce plant resistance under field conditions, providing effective suppression of bacterial speck and spot of tomato, and that there may be some benefit to the integration of rhizosphere-applied PGPR and foliar-applied biological control agents.     

水稻条斑病细菌hrp基因诱导表达系统的建立

水稻条斑病细菌(Xanthomonas oryzae pv.oryzicola,Xooc)决定在非寄主植物上激发过敏反应(hypersensitive response)和在寄主水稻上具致病性(pathogenicity)的hrp基因簇是诱导表达的。为研究hrp基因的功能,利用hpa1和hrpX基因的启动子与gfp基因进行融合,构建了hrp基因诱导表达系统。绿色荧光蛋白表达揭示,Xooc的hrp基因在营养丰富的NB培养基上不能有效表达,在hrp诱导培养基XOM3上可有效表达。以hrpX和hrpG突变体为参照,RT-PCR研究结果提示,Xooc野生型菌株hpa1基因在NB上不能有效表达,在XOM3培养基上可有效表达。相应地,hrpX突变体中hpa1基因不能被诱导表达,而在hrpG突变体中hpa1基因转录表达水平低于野生菌。研究结果还证实,水稻悬浮细胞能高效诱导Xooc的hrp基因表达。Xooc hrp基因诱导表达系统的建立为研究hrp基因功能、发掘T3SS效应分子以及开展Xooc致病性研究奠定了基础。     

Effect of lacZY-marking of the 2,4-diacetyl-phloroglucinol producing Pseudomonas fluorescens-strain 5-2/4 on its physiological performance and root colonization ability

Transgenic Pseudomonas fluorescens 5-2/4 with reinforced 2,4-diacetyl phloroglucinol (phl) production had shown increased biocontrol ability towards Pythium ultimum (Pu), but inferior root colonization ability compared to its wild type 5.014. Therefore, enhanced root colonization ability of the transgenic strain by repeated inoculation and reisolation on tomato plants was suggested. As a preparation for repeated inoculation and reisolation cycles, the construction of a negative control of the transgenic strain 5-2/4 by marking with lacZY and screening for a mutant possessing qualities comparable to 5-2/4 was performed. Morphologically, colonies of all of the 11 selected mutants were similar on MLXgal medium. The root colonization ability of two of the lacZY-marked strains (mutants 1 and 10) was comparable to the parental strain. These were also able to compete with the resident microflora of tomato seedlings to the same extent as the parental strain. Five mutants were excluded due to lower growth rates on Yeast Malt, King's B Medium (KB) and 0.1 Tryptic Soy Agar (mutant 4, 5 and 8), excessive growth and higher siderophore production on KB (mutant 10) and increased protease production (mutant 2). With respect to in vitro-antagonism of Pu, no differences could be found between the target strain and mutants 1, 3, 6, 7 and 9. Examination of sole carbon source utilization of these five lacZY-marked strains revealed a significantly higher utilization of alpha-D-lactose and lactulose compared to 5-2/4. However, significant differences could be found for 51% of the utilized carbon sources. Cluster analysis showed a high degree of similarity between 5-2/4 and mutant 1 both when analyzed with and without alpha-D-lactose. As mutant 1 also represented the colonization pattern most similar to the parental strain 5-2/4, it presents a presumptive subject for a negative control in the following inoculation and reisolation studies on tomato.     

Evaluation of formulations of Bacillus licheniformis for the biological control of tomato gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea

Bacillus licheniformis N1, which has previously exhibited potential as a biological control agent, was investigated to develop a biofungicide to control the gray mold of tomato caused by Botrytis cinerea. Various formulations of B. licheniformis N1 were developed using fermentation cultures of the bacteria in Biji medium, and their ability to control gray mold on tomato plants was evaluated. The results of pot experiments led to the selection of the wettable powder formulation N1E, based on corn starch and olive oil, for evaluation of the disease control activity of this bacterium after both artificial infection of the pathogen and natural disease occurrence under production conditions. In plastic-house artificial infection experiments, a 100-fold diluted N1E treatment was found to be the optimum biofungicide spray formulation. This treatment resulted in the significant reduction of symptom development when N1E was applied before Bo. cinerea infection, but not after the infection. Both artificial infection experiments in a plastic house and natural infection experiments under production conditions revealed that the N1E significantly reduced disease severity on tomato plants and flowers. The disease control value of N1E on tomato plants was 90.5% under production conditions, as compared to the 77% conferred by a chemical fungicide, the mixture of carbendazim and diethofencarb (1:1). The prevention of flower infection by N1E resulted in increased numbers of tomato fruits on each plant. N1E treatment also had growth promotion activity, which showed the increased number of tomato fruits compared to fungicide treatment and non-treated control and the increased fruit size compared the non-treated control under production conditions. This study suggests that the corn starch-based formulation of B. licheniformis developed using liquid fermentation will be an effective tool in the biological control of tomato gray mold.     

Role of ABA in stamen and pistil development in the normal and solanifolia mutant of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Summary The role of abscisic acid (ABA) in stamen and pistil development of the normal and solanifolia (sf/sf) mutant of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) was analyzed. The solanifolia mutant produces flowers with separate floral organs, unlike the fused organs of normal flowers, and has greater number of carpels and locules per ovary than the normal. Applications of 10^–5 M ABA to normal floral buds produced flowers with separate stamens, but higher concentrations (10^–4 M ABA) resulted in the complete suppression of stamen growth or stamens that were devoid of anthers. ABA at both 10^–4 and 10^–5 M also induced an increase in the number of carpels and locules in normal flowers, but not in mutant ones. Analysis of endogenous ABA by a radioimmunoassay revealed that the pistils of mutant flowers contained a significantly higher level of ABA than those of normal flowers, but there was no difference in the ABA content of the stamens. The non-fusion of the stamens and the high number of carpels and locules in solanifolia mutant flowers may be explained by the high level of ABA in the floral apex during the initiation and development of carpels.