Agrobacterium

Agrobacterium is a genus of bacteria that are typically rod-shaped, motile, and Gram-negative. Some species of Agrobacterium are found in soil and can vigorously reduce nitrates.1

A notable characteristic of certain Agrobacterium species, such as Agrobacterium tumefaciens, is their ability to cause plant diseases. Specifically, they are known to cause crown gall disease, which results in the formation of abnormal growths or galls on the stems or roots of over 100 genera of woody and herbaceous plants. This disease is caused by a plasmid carried by the bacterium, which induces excessive cell multiplication.12

While many bacteria are essential for life, performing vital biochemical processes like decomposition, hundreds of species, including some Agrobacterium, can cause diseases in plants, animals, and humans. Controlling bacterial diseases in plants can be challenging due to their rapid invasion.2