Regulators of cell- or organ-differentiation and their application to method of regulating morphogenesis

Abstract

A method of regulating flowering of a plant by applying an effective amount of a substance that affects the synthesis or amount of glutathione in cells to the plant and cultivating the plant under conditions suitable for growth.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . A method for regulating the differentiation or morphogenesis of a plant: which comprises applying a redox state regulator of cells to the plant, wherein the differentiation or morphogenesis of the plant is selected from the group consisting of the individual development at germination, redifferentiation from callus, tracheary element formation and root hair formation. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to claim  1 , wherein the redox state regulator of cells is a substance which affects the generation of active oxygen in cells. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to claim  1 , wherein the redox state regulator of cells is a substance which affects the synthesis or amount of glutathione in cells. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to claim  1 , wherein the redox state regulator of cells is selected from the group consisting of active oxygen, antioxidant enzymes, glutathione synthesis inhibitors, glutathione derivatives, respiratory inhibitors, polyamines and substances capable of generating these substances in cells. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to claim  1 , wherein the redox state regulator of cells is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion radical, superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, dehydroascorbate reductase, monoascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, buthionine sulfoximine, methionine sulfoximine, reduced glutathione, oxidized glutathione, homoglutathione, carboxypropylglutathione, dicarboxyethylglutathione, paraquat, KCN, NaN 3 , putrescine, spermine and spermidine. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to claim  1 , wherein the differentiation or morphogenesis of the plant is the individual development at germination and the redox state regulator of cells is hydrogen peroxide. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to claim  1 , wherein the differentiation or morphogenesis of the plant is the redifferentiation from callus and the redox state regulator of cells is selected from reduced glutathione, oxidized glutathione, buthionine sulfoximine and any combination thereof. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to claim  1 , wherein the differentiation or morphogenesis of the plant is the tracheary element formation and the redox state regulator of cells is selected from superoxide dismutase, catalase and combination thereof. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to claim  1 , wherein the differentiation or morphogenesis of the plant is the root hair formation and the redox state regulator of cells is hydrogen peroxide.