Studies on the recovery of crown gall tumor cells

Abstract

Our previous studies have shown that, while a persistent but potentially reversible suppression of the tumorous state appears to be a characteristic feature of the vegetative phase of teratoma shoot growth in the crown gall disease of plants, a recovery from that state occurs during the reproductive phase. An analysis has now been made of the reproductive process in an attempt to define the precise stage at which recovery occurs. The results of this analysis have shown that diploid somatic cells of teratoma-derived flower parts such as those found in petals and filaments are inherently neoplastic. On the other hand, haploid cells of plants grown from anthers of the same flowers and diploid cells of F(1) generation plants grown from teratoma-derived seed have, by generally accepted criteria, recovered from the tumorous state. These findings have been interpreted to mean that the loss of neoplastic properties occurs in crown gall teratoma cells during meiosis rather than during fertilization or later stages of the reproductive process.An analysis of more than 2000 teratoma-derived tumor shoots has shown, moreover, that a recovery from the tumorous state may also occur, although apparently as a very rare event, during the vegetative phase of teratoma shoot growth.