FREE AND CONJUGATED INDOLEACETIC-ACID (IAA) CONTENTS IN TRANSGENIC TOBACCO PLANTS EXPRESSING THE IAAM AND IAAH IAA BIOSYNTHESIS GENES FROM AGROBACTERIUM-TUMEFACIENS

The Agrobacterium tumefaciens T-DNA gene iaaM was introduced by leaf-disc transformation into transgenic tobacco (Nicotaina tabacum) plants expressing the iaaH gene. Regenerated calli were screened for the presence of indole-3-acetamide (IAM), by gas chromatography-multiple ion monitoring-mass spectrometry, and IAM-containing calli were further analyzed for free and conjugated indoleacetic acid (IAA). It was found that transgenic calli on average contained twice as much free IAA and three times more conjugated IAA than calli from wild-type plants. About 40% of the transformed calli could be regenerated to plants. The distribution of free and conjugated IAA was measured in transformed plants with a normal phenotype and compared with equivalent wild-type plants. The IAA content of transgenic plants was only slightly increased, whereas IAA-conjugate levels were enhanced significantly. These data suggest that conjugation of IAA may serve as a regulatory mechanism, contributing to maintenance of steady-state IAA pool sizes during tobacco growth and development.