THE EFFECTS OF AGROBACTERIUM-RHIZOGENES ROLAB GENES IN LETTUCE

Agrobacterium rhizogenes rolAB genes were transferred into lettuce (La ctuca sativa L.) cultivar 'Lake Nyah' using a supervirulent strain of A. tumefaciens, Southern hybridisation confirmed the presence of the r ol genes in kanamycin-resistant plants, In culture, transgenic plants exhibited extensive root development and an increased response to auxi n. Phenotypic characterisation of transgenic populations indicated sig nificant alterations in plant development, especially in the seed prog eny of transgenic plants, The potential commercial value of rolAB tran sformed lettuce plants is discussed.