Plasmid-dependent temperature-sensitive phase in crown gall tumorigenesis

Octopine Accumulation Early in Crown Gall Development is Progressive

A purification of octopine from crown gall tissue was developed to quantitate conversion of precursor [(3)H]arginine into [(3)H]octopine. Plant wound tissue which was sterile or infected with an avirulent strain of Agrobacterium tumefaciens did not accumulate detectable quantities of octopine, consistent with opine synthesis not being induced by wounding or infection. Octopine was only recovered from tissue infected with virulent tumor-inducing strains of A. tumefaciens. In every case tested, the morphological appearance of tumors preceded the accumulation of octopine by at least 1 week, and in some instances 3 weeks. Thus, what was necessary and sufficient for the expression of plant hormones (auxin and cytokinin) required for tumor growth was not sufficient for the accumulation of octopine. The possible nature of the temporal difference in the expression of hormone autotrophy and octopine synthesis is discussed.

Phytohormones in the formation of crown gall tumors

Crown gall tumors were initiated in a variety of plant species by infection with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain B6 and the concomitant changes in the tissue levels of phytohormones, mainly indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and cytokinins, were analyzed. A comparison was made of these hormones with those produced by virulent and avirulent strains of the bacterium in liquid culture and with those of bacteria-free crown gall callus cultures. Specific radioimmunoassays were employed for hormone determinations. An assay for the quantitation of femto-mol amounts of isopentenyladenosine and related cytokinins was newly developed and is described in detail. The results can be summarized as follows: Virulence in strain B 6 is associated with the ability to release trans-zeatin and increased amounts of IAA into the surrounding environment. In many, but not all plants analyzed, the development of crown gall tumors is also associated with a sharp rise in the levels of trans-zeatin-type zytokinins and IAA (e.g., Euphorbia lathyris, Catharanthus roseus). Crown gall calli growing on hormone-free media varied greatly in their cytokinin levels. In a culture of Nicotiana tabacum, both trans-zeatin and isopentenyladenine or related cytokinins were not detected. Thus, tumor growth cannot be explained on the basis of elevated levels of IAA and/or cytokinins alone.

Strain-dependent temperature-sensitive phase in crown gall tumorigenesis

The effect of high temperature treatments on the early stages of crown gall tumorigenesis in sunflowers was investigated. Treatments of 32 C initiated at various times during the first ten days after infection had a similar effect on tumors induced by Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains B(6) and C58. Tumor growth was sensitive to 32 C until 60 to 72 hours after infection and was stimulated by 32 C after that time. Therefore, the "inception phase" for both C58 and B(6)-induced tumors ends between 60 to 72 hours after infection. In contrast, B(6) and C58 tumors varied in their response to 37 C treatments during the first 168 hours after infection. Both C58 and B(6) tumors were sensitive to 37 C during the first 72 hours; however, B(6) tumors became resistant to 37 C after 96 hours, whereas C58-induced tumors remained sensitive until 144 to 168 hours after infection.The growth rate of C58 and B(6) tumors in plants moved to 32 C at 90 hours after infection was the same. B(6) tumors in plants moved to 37 C at 90 hours after infection also continued to grow rapidly, whereas C58 tumors in plants moved to 37 C at 90 hours exhibited a complete cessation of tumor growth. The 37 C temperature-sensitive period specific to C58 tumors ceases by 168 hours after infection. This indicates that the temperature-sensitive functions are no longer required after 168 hours. The possible significance of this work with regard to the presence of a temperature-sensitive plasmid, pTiC58, in strain C58 and the mechanism of tumor-inducing plasmid DNA maintenance in incipient tumor cells is discussed.