Colonization of Tomato Plants by Two Agrocin-Producing Strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
For a bacterium to be a successful biocontrol agent against crown gall disease, it must produce an effective agrocin specific for Agrobacterium tumefaciens and be able to colonize host plants efficiently. The colonization abilities of K84 and J73, successful and potential biocontrolling strains, respectively, were compared both in vivo and in vitro. Both strains produced fibrils attaching them to tomato root surfaces and had similar colonization efficiencies up to 14 days after inoculation. However, the ability of J73 to colonize plants for longer periods was significantly less than that of K84. Thus, the presence of fibrils is not sufficient to ensure colonization. No correlation was found between hydrophobicity and colonization.
Macrae
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Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Division of Processing and Chemical Manufacturing Technology, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001, University of Natal Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Unit for Plant Growth and Development, Department of Botany, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3200, and Department of Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa.
Thomson
J A
JA
Van Staden
J
J