Cytokinin production by the fungi Taphrina cerasi and T. deformans

Abstract

Cytokinins were released into chemically defined liquid media by cultures of Taphrina cerasi and T. deformans. The presence of the cell-division factors was demonstrated with the soybean callus tissue assay, which is specific for the detection of cytokinins. Paper chromatography in four solvent systems, in conjunction with bioassays, revealed that T. cerasi produced compounds that have migration patterns similar to those of zeatin, zeatin riboside, N6-(Δ2-isopentenyl) adenine, and N6-(Δ2-isopentenyl)adenosine. T. deformans produced compounds with chromatographic properties similar to those of zeatin, zeatin riboside, and a substance(s) the migration of which is correlated with the Rf interval that included the positions of N6-(Δ2-isopentenyl) adenine and its riboside. A third type of cytokinin, the mobility of which differs from those of the cytokinin standards used, was also produced by T. deformans. The total cytokinin activity in cultures of T. cerasi was calculated to be about 2 μg kinetin-equivalents per liter of culture medium, and the amount released by T. deformans was about 4 μg kinetin-equivalents per liter of medium.