METABOLISM OF BENZYLADENINE IN EMBRYOGENIC CELL-CULTURES OF CELERY

Embryogenic cell cultures of celery (Apium graveolens L.) were fed C-14-benzyladenine for 4 and 21 h. The various metabolites present in the 500 - 2000 mu globular embryo fraction were analyzed, using TLC and HPLC. TLC and HPLC analyses yielded peaks of radioactivity which co-chromatographed with ribosylbenzyladenine monophosphate, glucosyl 7 and 9 benzyladenine, ribosylbenzyladenine and benzyladenine. The total recovered radioactivity at the two incubation times did not differ appreciably, and the major peak of radioactivity co-chromatographed with BAR (65 % and 38 % for 4 and 21 h, respectively). However, after 21 h incubation more of the radioactivity was associated with the retention times of BARMP, BA glycosides and BA. This suggests that more attention should be given to the function of cytokinin metabolites in regulating somatic embryogenesis.