Query: NC_009445:6621996 Bradyrhizobium sp. ORS 278 chromosome, complete genome
Lineage: Bradyrhizobium; Bradyrhizobium; Bradyrhizobiaceae; Rhizobiales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: This strain was isolated from an Aeschynomene stem nodule and is photosynthetic, which is a rare trait in Rhizobium bacteria. These strains exhibit a photoheterotrophic and strictly aerobic photosynthesis. In culture, most stem isolates show the same pink coloration, while a few strains produce orange pigmentation. Pigment analyses showed that bacteriochlorophyll and spirilloxanthin, two pigments of the light harvesting system, are common to all of these photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium strains, whereas orange strains produce an additional bicyclic carotenoid, canthaxanthin (4,4'-diketo-beta-carotene). Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS278 produces the highest quantity of canthaxanthin of all tested photosynthetic bacteria; canthaxanthin represents 85% of its total carotenoid content.
Subject: NC_003305:1035342 Agrobacterium tumefaciens str. C58 chromosome linear, complete
Lineage: Agrobacterium tumefaciens; Agrobacterium; Rhizobiaceae; Rhizobiales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: Gram-negative soil bacterium. This is the most widely studied species in the genus. Strains of Agrobacterium are classified in three biovars based on their utilisation of different carbohydrates and other biochemical tests. The differences between biovars are determined by genes on the single circle of chromosomal DNA. Biovar differences are not particularly relevant to the pathogenicity of A. tumefaciens, except in one respect: biovar 3 is found worldwide as the pathogen of gravevines. This species causes crown gall disease of a wide range of dicotyledonous (broad-leaved) plants, especially members of the rose family such as apple, pear, peach, cherry, almond, raspberry and roses. Because of the way that it infects other organisms, this bacterium has been used as a tool in plant breeding. Any desired genes, such as insecticidal toxin genes or herbicide-resistance genes, can be engineered into the bacterial DNA, and then inserted into the plant genome. This process shortens the conventional plant breeding process, and allows entirely new (non-plant) genes to be engineered into crops.