Developmental Effects of Zeatin, Ribosyl-Zeatin, and Agrobacterium tumefaciens B(6) on Certain Mosses.

Eight species of mosses studied were divided into two groups on the basis of their developmental responses to ribosyl-trans-zeatin and Agro-bacterium tumefaciens B(6). All eight produced either gametophores or callus on the protonema in response to 6-(gamma,gamma-dimethylallylamino) purine and trans-zeatin. Three which produced normal gametophores with A. tumefaciens yielded callus or abnormal gametophores with ribosyl-trans-zeatin. Ribosyl-trans-zeatin and A. tumefaciens were relatively ineffective on five other mosses. Characteristics of protonemal growth common to each of these two groups are described.