Bacterial and Host Factors Concerned in Determining Tumor Morphology in Crown Gall

Abstract

The interrelationship of bacterial and host factors concerned in determining tumor morph. was studied, using as test plants Turkish tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus var. Mammoth Russian) inoculated with either the moderately virulent T37 strain or the highly virulent B6 strain of the crown-gall bacterium (Agrobacterium tumefaciens). This investigation showed that essentially 3 factors may be concerned in determining the morph. structure of the overgrowth: (a) strain of the crown-gall bacterium used for rendering the cells neoplastic, (b) relative position that tumor occupies in host, and (c) inherent potentialities of host cells.