ARTIFICIAL SYNCYANOSES - THE POTENTIAL FOR MODELING AND ANALYSIS OF NATURAL SYMBIOSES

New functional and structural features of artificial associations of c ultured cells, tissues and whole plants with cyanobacteria were discov ered. New data presented in this paper as well as earlier results, hav e been analyzed. The following acquisitions of artificial associations are revealed: the associations are capable of growing without or with low content of organic carbon or combined nitrogen; the frequency of heterocysts and nitrogenase activity of the cyanobiont increases; alka loids are accumulated by Solanum laciniatum cells in association with nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria in the absence of combined nitrogen; a n ew specific anatomical structure is formed; mucilage mantle is formed where the cyanobionts are localized; heteromorphic forms of cyanobacte ria emerge in long-term-cultivated associations; symbiotic cyanobacter ia are morphologically remodified in artificial association; a cyanobi ont (Nostoc muscorum VKM 16) becomes obligately dependent on the plant partner. Comparison of artificial and natural syncyanoses shows that most newly acquired features of the artificial associations are simila r to those of natural syncyanoses. The following applications of the m ethod of artificial associations in symbiology are suggested: (1) in v itro modeling and investigations of symbiotic interactions on the cell ular and tissue levels; and (2) maintaining in vitro of the symbiotic status of an isolated symbiotroph.