TRANSGENIC POTATO PLANTS RESISTANT TO THE PHYTOPATHOGENIC BACTERIUM ERWINIA-CAROTOVORA

The phytopathogenic bacterium Erwina carotovora SPP. which infects pot ato plants causes severe losses in agriculture. No protective means or resistance traits usable for plant breeding are known. Introduction o f a new resistance gene into potato by gene technology leads to a redu ced susceptibility of the transgenic plants towards Erwinia carotovora atroseptica infection. Bacteriophage T4 lysozyme is the most active m ember of a class of bacteriolytic enzymes also detected in several pla nt species. Secretion of the foreign T4 lysozyme into the intercellula r spaces of transgenic potato plants effects a resistance against the phytopathogenic bacterium already at low expression levels.