Genetic Tumors of Nicotiana. I. Chemical Composition of N. glauca, N. langsdorffii, & Their F1 Hybrid

Abstract

The alkaloids, sugars, organic acids, and amino acids of Nicotiana glauca, N. langsdorffii, and the tumorous and visibly non-tumorous tissues of their F1 hybrids were investigated. The chemical composition of tumorous tissue varied with culture medium and with the portion of the plant upon which the tumor developed. Newly-formed tumors accumulated high levels of free amino acids, irrespective of the age of the plant itself. Significant differences were found in the concentrations of alkaloids, organic and amino acids between the parental species and between tumorous and non-tumorous tissue of F1 hybrids.