CHANGES IN FLOWERING AND THE ACCUMULATION OF POLYAMINES AND HYDROXYCINNAMIC ACID-POLYAMINE CONJUGATES IN TOBACCO PLANTS TRANSFORMED BY THE ROLA LOCUS FROM THE RI TL-DNA OF AGROBACTERIUM-RHIZOGENES

Tobacco plants containing rolA (root locus A) from the Ri TL-DNA (root-inducing, left-hand, transferred DNA) from Agrobacterium rhizogenes have an altered phenotype, including male sterility, abnormal flower morphology, wrinkled leaves and shortened internodes. This phenotype is unstable, reverting to an attenuated form in lateral branches. We show that the pleiotropic effects of rolA are correlated with inhibition of the accumulation of conjugates between polyamines and the hydroxycinnamic acids. The compounds associated with male fertility are primarily affected, particularly the feruloyl derivatives.