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 expressible genes into plant cell genomes by utilization of the vector properties of the Ti plasmids of Agrobacterium are described. Modified acceptor Ti plasmids are described which allow the introduction of any gene(s) of interest contained within an intermediate cloning vector carrying a region of homology with a corresponding region in the acceptor Ti plasmid. This introduction is achieved in Agrobacterium as a host by a single cross-over event which occurs within the two homologous DNA segments. The resulting hybrid Ti plasmids in Agrobacterium (vector compositions) can be used directly to infect plant cells, that can subsequently be screened for the expression of the product of the gene(s) of interest. From the transformed plant cells it is possible to regenerate transformed fertile plants. This strategy is applicable to any of the plant transferable plasmids of Agrobacterium.