Radiation-sensitive Arabidopsis mutants are proficient for T-DNA transformation

Stable transformation of plants by Agrobacterium T-DNAs requires that the t ransgene insert into the host chromosome. Although most of the Agrobacteriu m Ti plasmid genes required for this process have been studied in depth, fe w plant-encoded factors have been identified, although such factors, presum ably DNA repair proteins, are widely presumed to exist. It has previously b een suggested that the UVH1 gene product is required for stable T-DNA integ ration in Arabidopsis. Here we present evidence suggesting that uvh1 mutant s are essentially wild type for T-DNA integration following inoculation via the vacuum-infiltration procedure.