SEED-SPECIFIC EXPRESSION OF THE ISOPENTENYL TRANSFERASE GENE (IPT) INTRANSGENIC TOBACCO

The Agrobacterium tunefaciens gene encoding isopentenyl transferase (i pt), a cytokinin biosynthetic gene, was fused to a promoter from a see d-specific gene, vicilin, and introduced into tobacco cells. Intact fe rtile plants were generated. The expression of the vicilin-ipt gene wa s shown to be confined to seed and resulted in enhanced levels of cyto kinins in the developing seeds and increased seed protein content, Usi ng a simplified quantification method, a significant increase in the l evels of endogenous cytokinins was recorded at 16-21 days after flower ing, The growth of the transgenic plants and the development of the se eds appeared to be normal.