Structure of T-DNA in roots transformed by Agrobacterium rhizogenes

DNA isolated from hairy roots incited on Daucus carota by Agrobacterium strains harboring the Ri plasmid was probed with Ri plasmid fragments to identify plasmid sequences transferred and integrated into the plant genome. One hairy root line was incited by an A. rhizogenes natural isolate strain harboring two large plasmids in addition to the Ri plasmid. DNA from hairy roots incited by this strain contained a total of five nonidentical copies of T-DNA which together comprised a T-DNA complement representing a 34-42 kb segment of the Ri plasmid. A second hairy root line was incited by a Ti plasmidless A. tumefaciens strain into which the Ri plasmid had been conjugated. Hairy root DNA incited by this strain contained four identical T-DNA copies 17-18 kb in length and one truncated copy. T-DNA borders occurred at preferential sites of the Ri plasmid. T-DNA structure in these hairy root lines is similar to T-DNA structure in tumors incited by Ti plasmids of A. tumefaciens.