Studies on Inc-P plasmids inErwinia carotovorasubsp.carotovora

Abstract

Inc‐P plasmids, RP4, R751, pMO850, and pRK2013 were transferred to Erwinia carotovora. These plasmids were stably maintained in E. carotovora and the transconjugants were efficient donors of respective plasmids to other strains of E. carotovora and Escherichia coli. These plasmids were not able to mobilize chromosomal markers from one strain of E. carotovora to another strain of E. carotovora even in the presence of homologous DNA sequences on the plasmid and the bacterial chromosome. The presence of Inc‐P plasmid does not affect the pathogenic phenotype of E. carotovora. A broad host range Inc‐P cosmid, pLAFR1, was transferred to E. carotovora with the help of pRK2013, suggesting the potential use of a binary plasmid system for genetic complementation in E. carotovora.