[Production of essential oils by cell-suspensions of Matricaria chamomilla in a two phase system.]. / Die Produktion ätherischer Ole durch Zellsuspensionen der Kamille in einem Zweiphasensystem.

Cell suspensions of Matricaria chamomilla were cultured in a two phase system consisting of an aqueous nutrient medium and a nontoxic lipophilic phase (triglyceride). Especially during the first week of culture period a great number of lipophilic substances were accumulated in the triglyceride phase as was demonstrated by TLC and GC. One of these substances could be identified as alpha-Bisabolol using GC-MS-coupling. Cell growth was unimpaired by the addition of the lipophilic phase to the nutrient medium.

[The spreading of Agrobacterium strains in soft-agar (author's transl)]. / Die Ausbreitung von Agrobacterium-Stämmen im Weichagar.

In a diluted synthetic medium solidified by 0.17% agar populations of Agrobacterium spread with a velocity of 0 to 20 mm/24 hours. This spreading is a consequence of chemotactic movement and cell division. Different bacterial strains spread with a characteristic velocity each. Loss of the TI-plasmid leaves the spreading behaviour unimpaired. It is changed after the introduction of virulence by Kerr transfer or after prolonged culture in D-amino acids.

[The influence of protoplast media on the tumor induction on kalanchoe leaves]. / Der Einflubeta von Protoplastenmedien auf die Tumorinduktion an Kalanchoe-Blättern

Experiments concerning tumor transformation of plant cells or protoplasts need complete knowledge of the effects of media components. Here inhibiting effects of cellulase Onozuka, glucose, sucrose and mannitol (up to 0.3M), of tissue culture media, and of the antibiotic aureomycin on the tumor initiation process in Kalanchoe leaves are reported. Also the influence of these substances on the growth of the tumor inducing Agrobacterium tumefaciens is studied. The results lead to the design of conditions which should be favourable to in vitro transformation.

Utilization of octopine and nopaline by Agrobacterium.

Tests for utilization of d-octopine and nopaline in defined media containing a carbon and nitrogen source were made on 60 strains of Agrobacterium representing four species and on a representative of each of five species of Rhizobium. Among 46 virulent strains of Agrobacterium, only two strains were found which utilized neither compound, while three strains were found which could utilize both. Of the remaining virulent strains, 27 utilized octopine and 14 utilized nopaline. Each of six strains of A. rhizogenes tested utilized only octopine but at a slower rate relative to growth than most A. tumefaciens. All eight of the A. radiobacter strains failed to utilize either compound, as did four of six nonvirulent strains of A. tumefaciens. The rhizobia did not utilize octopine or, with the possible exception of R. japonicum, nopaline. Virulence in the genus Agrobacterium is concluded to be highly correlated with the ability to utilize one or both of these compounds.

On the question of crown-gall tumor initiation by DNA of bacteriophage PS8.

DNA of Agrobacterium tumefaciens bacteriophage PS8 was isolated by using several procedures. Whole phage and phage DNA were tested for tumor-inducing ability on 10 species of plants with various additions to assist such activity. The reported tumorigenicity of phage PS8 DNA could not be confirmed, and no evidence to implicate phage PS8 involvement in tumor initiation was obtained.

[The ability of Agrobacterium to induce tumors and to produce phage PS8]. / Induktion von Tumoren und Produktion des Phagen PS8 durch Agrobacterium.

Twenty strains of the genus Agrobacterium do not show any correlation between tumor-initiating ability and the ability to produce the bacteriophage PS8. Only some virulent strains produce the phage at temperatures permissive and non-permissive for tumor induction.

[The chlorophyll content of tumors from pale and green leaf tissues of Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi]. / Der Chlorophyllgehalt von Tumoren an bleichem und grünem Blattgewebe von Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi.

Pale and green leaves of Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi var. variegata were inoculated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Six weeks later the chlorophyll contents of the leaves and their tumors were investigated. The tumor tissues possess very similar concentrations of chlorophylls and a low number of chloroplasts per cell. Thereby they differ from each of the initial tissues. The qualitative composition of pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids) of the 4 tissues is the same.