NY Scientists Studying Agrobacterium to Further Improve Crops

Vitaly Citovsky and colleagues at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA are investigating the basic biological principles behind the action of Agrobacterium, an important vehicle in genetic engineering. Information about how bacteria transfer genetic material into the plant genome can lead to crop plants with improved resistance to pests and diseases.

Using Agrobacterium, some proteins essential for the transformation process were discovered. Citovsky said that the proteins may facilitate genetic manipulation of crops that are currently difficult to transform. This knowledge is also critical for production of agronomically important plants resistant to Agrobacterium. The US Department of Agriculture’s Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service is funding this research project through the National Research Initiative's Developmental Processes of Crop Plants program.

Additional information at http://www.csrees.usda.gov/newsroom/impact/2008/nri/08041_agrobacterium.html