Frequency of Conjugal Transfer of Genes Between Non-pathogenic and Pathogenic Agrobacteria

Abstract

In the present study, a detailed investigation was done on bioefficacy, transconjugant formation and virulence gene acquisition of UHFBA-218 against pathogenic agrobacteria in planta. Antagonistic (UHFBA-218 and K84) and pathogenic agrobacteria were co-inoculated on tomato stems at a 1:1 cell ratio. A total of 240 transconjugants were recovered; 36 from UHFBA-218 and 55 from K84-inoculated plants showed an agrocin activity and were immune to it. Four transconjugants of UHFBA-218 showed amplification with Vir D2 and ipt genes. The overall results suggest that strain UHFBA-218 is a good candidate for suppressing gall formation as it does not acquire the virulence genes.