This book provides in-depth reviews of the role of Rhizobium in agriculture and its biotechnological applications. Individual chapters explore topics such as: the occurrence and distribution of Rhizobium; phenotypic and molecular characteristics of Rhizobium; impact of Rhizobium on other microbial communities in the rhizosphere; N2-fixation ability of Rhizobium; Rhizobium and biotic stress; Rhizobium-mediated restoration of an ecosystem; in silico analysis of the rhizobia pool; further biotechnological perspectives of Rhizobium.

Rhizobia are bacteria which inhabit the roots of plants in the pea family and "fix" atmospheric nitrogen for plant growth. They are thus of enormous economic importance internationally and the subject of intense research interest. Handbook for Rhizobia is a monumental book of practical methods for working with these bacteria and their plant hosts. Topics include the general microbiological properties of rhizobia and their identification, their potential as symbionts, methods for inoculating rhizobia onto plants, and molecular genetics methods for Rhizobium in the laboratory. The book will be invaluable to Rhizobium scientists, soil microbiologists, field and laboratory researchers at agricultural research centers, agronomists, and crop scientists.

Comprises 26 contributions that provide an overview of the present molecular biological knowledge about the Rhizobiaceae, a family of soil bacteria that interact with and affect the development of plants. In addition to covering the various bacteria and their activities, the book also discusses the scientific principles that have been discovered as a result of study in the discipline. Topics include outer membrane proteins, alternative membrane lipids, the production of exopolysaccharides, opines and opine-like molecules involved in plant-Rhizobiaceae interactions, conjugal plasmids and their transfer, the use of Agrobacterium for plant genetic engineering, functions of rhizobial nodulation genes, and the agronomic aspects of legume symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Intended for professionals in chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, and biology, or as a textbook for a second or third year graduate course in microbiology or plant-microbe interactions. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Agrobacterium is a plant pathogen which causes the “crown-gall” disease, a neoplastic growth that results from the transfer of a well-defined DNA segment (“transferred DNA”, or “T-DNA”) from the bacterial Ti (tumor-inducing) plasmid to the host cell, its integration into the host genome, and the expression of oncogenes contained on the T-DNA. The molecular machinery, needed for T-DNA generation and transport into the host cell and encoded by a series of chromosomal (chv) and Ti-plasmid virulence (vir) genes, has been the subject of numerous studies over the past several decades. Today, Agrobacterium is the tool of choice for plant genetic engineering with an ever expanding host range that includes many commercially important crops, flowers, and tree species. Furthermore, its recent application for the genetic transformation of non-plant species, from yeast to cultivated mushrooms and even to human cells, promises this bacterium a unique place in the future of biotechnological applications. The book is a comprehensive volume describing Agrobacterium's biology, interactions with host species, and uses for genetic engineering.

This volume reviews various facets of Agrobacterium biology, from modern aspects of taxonomy and bacterial ecology to pathogenesis, bacterial cell biology, plant and fungal transformation, natural transgenics, and biotechnology. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is the most extensively utilized platform for generating transgenic plants, but modern biotechnology applications derive from more than 40 years of intensive basic scientific research. Many of the biological principles established by this research have served as models for other bacteria, including human and animal pathogens. Written by leading experts and highlighting recent advances, this volume serves both as an introduction to Agrobacterium biology for students as well as a more comprehensive text for research scientists.

This book helps evaluate the state of the art of rhizosphere microbial ecology and biotechnology. Experts in the field review methods and strategies applied to the detection, identification and monitoring of microorganisms in the rhizosphere. Major topics treated include: - construction of genetically marked rhizosphere bacteria - detection of marked wildtype and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) - identification of wildtype and GMOs by DNA probes and PCR amplification - rapid typing of non-modified and GMOs by PCR-based techniques - assessment of the role of gene transfer - EU regulations for the use and release of GMOs - biosafety results from field testing of GMOs In addition, technologies for the modifying gene expression and gene products for specific traits of agronomic interest in genetically engineered rhizosphere bacteria are covered.

Plant Biotechnology and Development is the first of a series of publications designed to provide readers with an overview of current topics in plant molecular biology. Such an overview is important due to the fact that researchers from many disciplines are successfully turning their attention to plant development in an attempt to increase our understanding of the laws of nature itself. Plant molecular biology is a new field resulting from this scientific concentration and can be classified anywhere from the purely scientific to the practical and applied. Plant Biotechnology and Development addresses biochemical as well as genetic analyses, in addition to morphological and evolutionary considerations. It emphasizes plant-microbe interactions, especially legume root nodule symbiosis. A glossary of terms is included at the back of the book to enable readers new to the field to "wade" through the jargon often associated with plant molecular biology. The book is fully indexed to allow easy access to information. Plant Biotechnology and Development and the series "Current Topics in Plant Molecular Biology" will interest pharmaceutical researchers, geneticists, botanists, molecular biologists, cell biologists, biochemists, and others who would like to learn more about plant molecular biology and its influence on all disciplines.