Manipulation of the morphogenetic pathways of tobacco explants by oligosaccharins

• Published in: Nature (London) 1985-04, Vol.314 (6012), p.615-617
• Main Authors: Tran Thanh Van, Kiem, Toubart, Patrick, Cousson, Alain, Darvill, Alan G, Gollin, David J, Chelf, Paulanne, Albersheim, Peter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Cell differentiation; Cell physiology; Economic plant physiology; Eukaryotic cell cultures; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Growth and development; Humanities and Social Sciences; In vitro propagation: entire plant regeneration from tissues and cell cultures; letter; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Morphogenesis, differentiation, rhizogenesis, tuberization. Senescence; multidisciplinary; Plant cells and fungal cells; Plant physiology and development; Science; Science (multidisciplinary)
• ISSN: 0028-0836; 1476-4687
• DOI: 10.1038/314615a0

Acquiring the ability to regulate morphogenesis in plants has long been an elusive goal. Previous research has established that ‘thin cell-layer’ explants from the surface of the floral branches of tobacco can be induced to form either callus, vegetative buds, flowers or roots by adjusting the p H and the ratio of auxin to cytokinin in the culture medium 1–5 . We now report that oligosaccharins (oligosaccharides with regulatory activity) derived from plant cell walls can, at concentrations of ∼10 −8 or 10 −9 M, induce tobacco expiants to form vegetative buds instead of flowers or callus, or flowers instead of vegetative buds. Other oligosaccharins can induce the expiants to form roots instead of vegetative buds. This ability of oligosaccharins to control morphogenesis suggests that these fragments are in situ regulators of morphogenesis.