The precisely "tuned" balance between regulatory mechanisms at various levels, which in fact forms the base of normal development, differentiation and growth of plants, can be disturbed by very different factors. These may be chemical (toxic) agents, either applied intentionally (herbicides, growthretardants) or introduced by pathogenic microorganisms (cf. wilting caused by parasites), plant viruses and different, mostly unknown factors, which in combination with an essential wounding process, may induce plant tumors. Apart from these, physical factors e.g. variations in light intensity and temperature have to be considered.