The most thoroughly studied of the known bacteria-plant interactions is the :-
A
Gall formation on certain angiosperms by Agrobacterium
B
Nodulation of Sesbania stems by nitrogen fixing bacteria
C
Plant growth stimulation by phosphate–solubilising bacteria
D
Cyanobacterial symbiosis with some aquatic ferns
The answer is A.
Solution
Agrobacterium tumefaciens infects wounds of many dicotyledonous plants and causes crown gall disease, a tumour-like growth. It does this by transferring a piece of DNA called T-DNA from its tumour-inducing (Ti) plasmid into the plant genome. The T-DNA genes make the plant cells produce growth hormones (causing the gall) and opines, which the bacterium uses as food. Because this natural gene transfer is the basis of plant genetic engineering (Agrobacterium is called a natural genetic engineer), the Agrobacterium–plant interaction has been studied in great molecular detail. Stem nodulation of Sesbania, phosphate-solubilising bacteria and the Anabaena–Azolla symbiosis are important but have been studied much less thoroughly. So the most thoroughly studied bacteria-plant interaction is gall formation on certain angiosperms by Agrobacterium.
ConceptCrown gall and Ti plasmid
Biotechnology: Principles and Processes in past papers
132 questions from this chapter have appeared across 26 exam years.