Which of the following is used as a best genetic vector in plants? (a) Bacillus thuringiensis (b) Agrobacterium tumifaciens (c) Pseudomonas putida (d) All of the above
Option B.Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a soil-plant pathogenic bacterium that carries Ti plasmid. It can transfer a particular segment of the tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid into the nucleus of infected cells. The transferred T-DNA is then integrated into the host genome and transcribed with it. This ability to transfer the T-DNA in the host genome is explored in genetic engineering to transfer the desired DNA segment, carrying the gene of the interest, into the genome of selected organisms. This exceptional ability to transfer part of the plasmid into the nucleus of infected cells is not found in any other bacteria, which makes Agrobacterium tumefaciens the best genetic vector in plants.
