Expression of a Bacterial ACC Deaminase Gene in Tomato

Pseudomonas sp. ACP contains an inducible 1-aminocyclopropane-lcarboxylate (ACC) deaminase which allows this organism to grow on ACC as a nitrogen source. ACC is the immediate precursor in the biosynthetic pathway of the hormone ethylene in higher plants. Ethylene regulates a variety of growth and developmental processes, and in particular senescence and fruit ripening. We have isolated a bacterial gene encoding ACC deaminase and chimeric gene constructs which utilize an enhanced 35S promoter have been introduced into tomato. Expression of the ACC deaminase gene in tomato is described.