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Techniques

Application of Electroporation for Efficient Transformation of Xanthomonas campestris pv. oryzae. T. J. White, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843; C. F. Gonzalez, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843. Phytopathology 81:521-524. Accepted for publication 29 November 1990. Copyright 1991 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-81-521.

Electroporation provided an effective transformation system for strains of Xanthomonas campestris pv. oryzae. Transformation was observed for strain X37-2 with plasmid pUFR027 over a range of electric field strengths (9.2–17.1 kV/cm) and two different pulse lengths. Optimization of the compensatory relationship between the electrical parameters produced maximal transformation efficiency (3.6 × 10⁹ transformants/µg DNA) and frequency (1.8 × 10^–2 transformant/survivor) for strain X37-2. When applied to four other strains of X. c. oryzae, these conditions yielded lower levels of transformation (7.8 × 10⁶ to 2.7 × 10⁷ transformants/µg DNA). Linear relationships were observed between bacterial cell density and transformation efficiency and between plasmid DNA concentration and frequency of transformation.