Involvement of tRNA Bound Cytokinin on the Gall Formation in Zizania

To understand the role of the conjugated forms of cytokininin gall formation, tRNA was extracted and purified from vegetativeand flowering shoots of Zizania, then hydrolysed by RNase T,or acid to release the conjugated forms of cytokinin. The resultsindicated that the level of cw-zeatin riboside fromZizania galltissue was 3 to 5 times higher than that of flowering Zizania,and the cytokinin activity in terms of kinetin equivalence was1.6 times higher in Zizania gall tissue than that of floweringZizania. It was found that higher amounts of cytokinin alsopromote protein synthesis. Due to the difference in levels ofthe conjugated forms of cytokinin between vegetative and floweringZizaniashoots, it is implied that the conjugated form of cytokininmay play an important role during the process of gall formationin Zizania latifolia. Key words: Gall formation, cytokinin, Zizania latifolia, RNA, smut fungus, water oat