Increased Endogenous Auxin Production in Arabidopsis thaliana Causes Both Earlier Described and Novel Auxin-Related Phenotypes

Abstract

Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants harboring the Agrobacterium tumefaciens phytohormone-biosynthetic genes iaaM and iaaH display an altered development indicative of elevated auxin levels. These plants exhibit an increased apical dominance, increased hypocotyl and petiole length and epinastic leaves and cotyledons. In addition, the transgenic plants display the formation of necrotic spots on leaves and bracts in soil and an altered behavior of axillary buds in tissue culture. Despite transcriptional activity of the iaaM and iaaH promoters in the vasculature of root tissue, root development of young iaaM/iaaH transgenic plants is identical to wild type. However, transgenic iaaM/iaaH plants grown under tissue culture conditions for a prolonged period display both vigorous and ectopic root growth. The level of free IAA in the rosette of the iaaM/iaaH transgenic plants is increased approximately 2-fold compared to wild type. The number of cells comprising the vascular tissue in hypocotyls and inflorescence stems of the transgenic plants is reduced and these plants exhibit a reduced basipetal polar auxin transport in the inflorescence stems. This reduced polar auxin transport probably accounts for the rapid auxin effect on the aerial part of the transgenic plants and the late effect on root development.