EFFECTS OF THE ROLABC, ROLB, AND CAMV 35S-ROLC GENES ON GROWTH AND NITROGEN-FIXATION IN LOTUS-CORNICULATUS L

Lotus corniculatus has been transformed by Agrobacterium tumefaciens h arbouring the rolABC, rolAB, and 35S-rolC constructs. Growth, shoot an d root morphology, cytokinin and auxin concentrations in the shoots, c hlorophyll content in the leaves, nodulation and nodule nitrogenase ac tivity of clonal progenies of selected transformants, in which the tra nsferred rol sequences were proved, were compared with control plants. The most striking alterations were observed in the 35S-rolC transform ants (dwarfism, shoot and root branching, shorter internodes, delayed nodule formation, decreased nitrogenase activity, reduced content of l eaf pigments) in comparison with either the rolAB, rolABC, or controls . The rolAB and rolABC transformants were very similar to the control plants in their morphology as well as in most other traits measured.