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Transcription of the Azospirillum brasilense ipdC gene, encoding an indole-3-pyruvate decarboxylase involved in the biosynthesis of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), is induced by IAA as determined by ipdC-gusA expression studies and Northern analysis. Besides IAA, exogenously added synthetic auxins such as 1-naphthaleneacetic acid, 2,4-dichlorophenoxypropionic acid, andp-chlorophenoxyacetic acid were also found to upregulateipdC expression. No upregulation was observed with tryptophan, acetic acid, or propionic acid or with the IAA conjugates IAA ethyl ester and IAA-l-phenylalanine, indicating structural specificity is required for ipdC induction. This is the first report describing the induction of a bacterial gene by auxin.