Bakterienwand und Tumorinduktion durch Agrobacterium tumefaciens / Bacterial Cell Wall and Tumor Induction by Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Abstract

Bacterial cell walls are concerned with the tumor induction by Agrobacterium tumefaciens on leaves of Kalanchoe in two different ways: 1. If an inoculum of the virulent strain B6 of A. tumefaciens is mixed with cells of the avirulent strain IIBNV6 or with high concentrations of cell wall preparations from B6 itself tumor induction is inhibited. The same is true with cell wall preparations which were treated with ether or chloroform. In vitro growth of the bacteria is not influenced by cell wall preparations. 2. Penicillin inhibits tumor induction by inhibiting bacterial growth. Addition of penicillin as late as 8 hours after infection is still inhibiting tumor initiation. Growth of induced tumors is not inihited by penicillin. The meaning of the two cell wall related processes in tumor induction is discussed.