Question

Which one of the following bacteria has found extensive use in genetic engineering work in plants?

• A. Clostridium septicum
• B. Xanthomonas citri
• C. Bacillus coagulens
• D. Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Answer 1

The correct option is D Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Agrobacteria are soil-borne, bacterial plant pathogens which cause tumorous growths. Plant transformation mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a soil plant pathogenic bacterium, has become the most used method for the introduction of foreign genes into plant cells and the subsequent regeneration of transgenic plants. A. tumefaciens has the exceptional ability to transfer a particular DNA segment (T-DNA) of the tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid into the nucleus of infected cells, where it is then stably integrated into the host genome and transcribed, causing the crown gall disease.

So, the correct answer is 'Agrobacterium tumefaciens'