Controlling A. tumefaciens

[Peter L. Schuerman]

Using Agrobacterium tumefaciens as a means of introducing DNA 
into plant cells necessitates actually infecting plant 
segments (explants) with the bacterium.  If the next step in 
the process involves culturing the explant, the residual bacteria
can be a serious problem, as they will grow unchecked in the 
plant growth medium.  This problem is dealt with by using 
antibiotics, but often this is not 100% effective, and the 
antibiotics may have undesirable effects on the plant tissue.
 
I'm writing an article on these problems.  As I understand it, 
these difficulties plague many researchers, yet they are often 
not discussed in journal publications.  I think it would be 
good, especially for those new to the field, to know more 
about these aspects of plant transformation.  I am told that 
these difficulties are especially salient with regard to woody 
plants, or plants which are otherwise difficult to culture.
 
If you have had problems controlling the growth of A. 
tumefaciens in a plant transformation experiment, or have had 
undesirable effects on your plant material due to antibiotics, 
please contact me.  I would appreciate discussing this, and, 
if you are interested, perhaps interviewing you for the article.
 
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         . - ~ ~-.__`.`-.//     Peter L. Schuerman
     .-~   . - ~  }~ ~ ~-.~-.        Crown Gall Group / Pomology
   .' .-~      .-~       :/~-.~-./:       University of California
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plschuerman at ucdavis.edu .-~   . - ~  }~ ~ ~-.~   -.   \_.
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