US Patent:
20030233676, Dec 18, 2003
Inventors:
Tzvi Tzfira - Port Jefferson NY, US
Vitaly Citovsky - Commack NY, US
International Classification:
A01H001/00
C12N015/82
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to methods and compositions which employ an Arabidopsis VIP1 gene or VIP1-like gene from another plant species for purposes of increasing host plant susceptibility to Agrobacterium infection. Methods for increasing susceptibility of a host to Agrobacterium infection and methods for improving Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer are provided. Also provided are chimeric genes and expression vectors that, upon introduction into a plant cell, enable the plant cell to become more susceptible to Agrobacterium infection and thus better transformed via Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer. Transgenic plant cells and plants regenerated therefrom which overexpress a VIP1 or VIP1-like gene are also provided.