Transformation of several species of higher plants by Agrobacterium rhizogenes: sexual transmission of the transformed genotype and phenotype.

The T-DNA of the Ri plasmid from Agrobacterium rhizogenes is compatible with the regeneration of whole plants from genetically transformed roots and is transmitted through meiosis to the progeny of genetically transformed plants in carrot, tobacco, and morning glory (Convolvulus arvensis). The presence of Ri T-DNA is correlated with a phenotype that in some respects is invariable from species to species and in other respects varies as a function of species, organ clone within species, or individual. The transformed phenotype concerns a variety of morphological and physiological traits, is dominantly inherited in tobacco, but does not in general appear to be deleterious. The Ri T-DNA may provide a molecular starting point for studying a number of basic phenomena in plant morphology and physiology.