Thiophene Content in Normal and Transformed Root Cultures ofTagetes erecta: A Comparison with Thiophene Content in Roots of Intact Plants

Transformed roots of Tagetes erecta were obtained following infection of stems of sterile plantlets with Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain TR105. The thiophenes detected were 5-(4-hydroxy-l-butenyl)-2,2'-bithienyl, 5-(4-acetoxy-l-butenyl)-2,2'-bithienyl, 5-(3-buten-l-enyl)-2,2', -bithienyl and 2.2': 5', 2''-terthienyl. The thiophene pattern was the same in normal root cultures and roots of the intact plant. Transformed roots showed a higher growth rate and a higher biomass yield than normal root cultures on a hormone-free media.