Agrobacteria

Agrobacteria are a type of bacteria found in the soil that transfer genetic material to plants, thus contributing to the various evolutionary changes in plant diversity. This process, termed ‘genetic engineering’, has been used to modify the genes of plants to increase yields or resist pests and diseases. Agrobacteria have been used to increase crop yields, reduce pesticide use, create disease-resistant plants, and develop improved nutritional profiles for food products. They are also used for industrial biotechnology applications, such as producing biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and enzymes. Due to their importance to agriculture and industry, research is ongoing to understand their mechanisms of action and to discover new methods of using these bacteria to improve crop productivity and safety.