Carbohydrates serve three different principal functions in the metabolism of plants. They are the primary products of energy fixation, they are important transport metabolites, and they are deposited as structural or storage compounds. Modification of carbohydrate metabolism therefore covers approaches to modify yield, to change sink/source relationships and thereby alter the ratio of harvestable material, and to improve the quality of crop plants. The scope of this article is to summarize research done at the Max-Planck-Institute related to the first two fields and to present in some detail what we learned, when we established a new carbohydrate storage form in potato.

An efficient method of shoot regeneration of peanut is described. In vitro shoot organogenesis from the callus of cotyledon explants of Arachis hypogaea L. was stimulated by addition of Adenine sulphate (Ads) along with 6 - benzylaminopurine (BAP) and - napthalene acetic acid (NAA). Ads (13 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$) had a stimulatory effect on shoot bud differentiation when combined with BAP (13 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$) and NAA (2 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$). Shoot organogenesis was markedly higher (92%) from callus induced on Ads, BAP and NAA combined media than from those formed by the individual supplementation of Ads or BAP with NAA. The shoots elongated on the media with GA$_3$ (1 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$). Elongated plantlets rooted with MS media containing IBA (9 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$).

The anthocyanin gene encoding flavonoid 3',5'-hydroxylase(F3,5H) was normally expressed in Nicotiana tobacco (Xanthi) plants cocultivated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404 carrying egg plant flavonoid 3',5'-hydroxylase cDNA. Northern blot analysis showed the normal expression of F3', 5'H gene from transgenic plants. Here we found the phenotypic differences between transgenic plants and wild-type plants. The petal shape of transgenic plants showed more round shape and around petal tube area was compared to that of wild-type tobacco plants. And the petal color of transgenic plants was much lighter than that of wild-type tobacco plants.

To develop an efficient propagation method for yew tree, zygotic embryos were cultured under various conditions. When dissected embryos were cultured on GA$_3$ containing media, the highest germination frequency was observed on WPM medium contaning 1.0 mg/L GA$_3$. For germination of the embryos, two different conditions were compared; culturing embryos with endosperm (Method I), and 2) culturing embryos only (Method II). Maximum germination was achieved in 0.5 mg/L GA$_3$ when embryos with endosperm were cultured on the media. Of the media tested, White and WPM medium were the most suitable on germination of embryos. The abnormality of yew embryos found was observed when it cultured on GA$_3$ or culture media. About 40% of the precociously germinated embryos could be developed into full seedlings. Seedlings contained taxol in high quantity (535 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g dry weight). In vitro techniques will be sewed as a useful tool for the development of transformed root cultures and biosynthesis studies.

Transgenic cabbage (Brassica oleracea ssp. capitata) plants resistant to the commercial herbicide Bast $a^{R}$ were obtained by Agrobacterium tumefaciens - mediated transformation. Hypocotyl segments of in vitro grown plants were infected with Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA 4404 harboring plasmid pMOG6-Bar which contains hpt and bar genes. Explants were cultured on callus induction medium (MS basal medium + 1 mg/L NAA + 2 mg/L BA + 2 mg/L AgN $O_3$+ 100 mg/L carbenicillin + 250 mg/L cefotaxime) supplemented with 15 mg/L hygromycin. Hygromycin resistant calluses were transferred to shoot regeneration medium (MS basal medium + 0.1 mg/L NAA + 2 mg/L BA + 3% sucrose + 2 mg/L AgN $O_3$+ 15 mg/L hygromycin + 250 mg/L cefotaxime + 100 mg/L carbenicillin). In order to induce roots, elongated shoots were placed on the MS medium without plant growth regulators and hygromycin. Southern blot analysis of several putative transgenic plants indicated that one to five intact copies of Apt and bar genes were incorporated into the genome. Expression of bar gene was confirmed by Northern blot analysis and by herbicide resistant phenotype. Seed progeny from self-pollinated transformants expressed the herbicide resistance and showed Mendelian segregation of the introduced gene.e.

An efficient and reliable Agrobacterium transformation procedure based on TDZ (thidiazuron)-induced organogenesis was established and applied to six Brazilian eggp1ant varieties. Optimum transgenic plants recovery was achieved upon the study of the following parameters affecting transformation efficiency, using F-100 variety as a model: i) explant source; ii) pre-culture period; iii) physical state of the pre-culture medium and iv) coculture conditions. The highest frequency of kanamycin-resistant calli derived from leaf explants (5%) was obtained without a pre-culture period and co-cultivation for 24 h in liquid medium followed by five days on solid RM (regeneration medium). For cotyledon explants, best results were achieved upon a pre-culture of 24 h in liquid RM and a co-cultivation period of 24 h in liquid RM followed by three days in solid RM, resulting in a transformation Sequency of 22.7%. Kanamycin-resistant organogenic calli were also obtained from cultivars Emb, Preta Comprida, Round nose Shaded, Campineira and Florida Market. The expression pattern of an epidermis-specific promoter was studied using transformants expressing a chimaeric construct comprised by the promoter Atgrp-5 transcriptionally fused to the coding region of the gus gene. The expression pattern was similar to that previously observed in tobacco and Arabidopsis thaliana, with preferential expression at the epidermis and the stem phloem. These results support the idea that the Atgrp-5 promoter can be used to drive defense genes in these tissues, which are sites of pathogen interaction and spread, in programs for the genetic improvement of eggplant.

Leaf explants of the cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) were cultured on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with various concentrations of $\alpha$-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). Direct shoot orgnogenesis as well as callus formation with somatic embryos and multiple shoots was observed from leaf explants of cvs. Shinhukjinju and Chungjang. The highest frequency of shoot formation 80% was observed on MS medium supplemented with NAA/BAP (5.0 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$/2.5 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$), with explants forming 3-7 shoots. Shoots formation occured within 3 to 4 weeks. Only one subculture of calli was required for plant regeneration on normal growth regulator-free medium. Plantlets transferred to soil developed into plants of normal appearance, which flowered and set fruits.