PROCESS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF EXPRESSIBLE GENES INTO PLANT CELL GENOMES AND AGROBACTERIUM STRAINS CARRYING HYBRID TI PLASMID VECTORS USEFUL FOR THIS PROCESS

摘要

A process and vector compositions for the introduction of expressiblegenes into plant cell genomes by utilization of the vector properties ofthe Ti plasmids of Agrobacterium are described. Modified acceptorTi plasmids are described which allow the introduction of any gene(s)of interest contained within an intermediate cloning vector carrying aregion of homology with a corresponding region in the acceptor Tiplasmid. This introduction is achieved in Agrobacterium as a host bya single cross-over event which occurs within the two homologousDNA segments. The resulting hybrid Ti plasmids in Agrobacterium(vector compositions) can be used directly to infect plant cells, thatcan subsequently be screened for the expression of the product ofthe gene(s) of interest. From the transformed plant cells it ispossible to regenerate transformed fertile plants. This strategy isapplicable to any of the plant transferable plasmids of Agrobacterium.