PHENOTYPES OF TOBACCO PLANTS EXPRESSING GENES FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF GROWTH-REGULATORS

The expression of genes for synthesis of auxin (iaaM and iaaH) and cyt okinins (ipt) was studied in tobacco plants transformed by two Agrobac terium tumefaciens strains C 58 and LBA 4404. The strain LBA 4404 carr ied binary vector plasmid pCB 1334 (ipt gene) and plasmid pCB 1349 (ia aM, iaaH and ila genes). Both plasmids carried reportered gene for npt II. Obtained plants expressed incorporated genes. New proteins with m olecular masses of about 74, 40, 26, 25, 21 and 17 kDa for wild plasmi d pTi C58; 60, 36, 31.5, 27, 26 and 17 kDa for binary vector plasmid p CB 1334 and 74, 49, 36, 31,5, 26 and 25 kDa for binary vector plasmid pCB 1349 were found in the patterns of soluble proteins. Significant c hanges in the content of chlorophylls, especially chlorophyll a, were detected in the plants carrying ipt gene and in plants transformed by the wild strain C58 of A. tumefaciens. Tobacco plants expressing ipt g ene and genes from T-DNA of pTi C58 plasmid were dwarf, and in compari son to the controls, they had thicker stems, and the surface of the le af blades was reduced to 20 - 50 %, Adventitious roots, growing from t he stem, were typical for transformants overproducing auxins. Regenera nts and transformants expressing genes from T-DNA of plasmid pTi C58 d iffered in the shape of the flowers and their fertility.