Question

Hairy root culture in plants are induced by infection with which bacterial sps

• A. Bacillus
• B. Agrobacterium
• C. Staphylococcus
• D. Pseudomonas

Hint:

• Agrobacterium: Known for DNA transfer to plants, causing tumors.
• Bacillus Common soil bacterium, some species are pathogenic.
• Staphylococcus Primarily infects animals, not plants.
• Pseudomonas Can infect plants but not via the same mechanism as Agrobacterium.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Hairy root culture in plants is a method used for secondary metabolite production and is primarily induced by infection with Agrobacterium rhizogenes, a specific strain of the bacterial genus Agrobacterium. This bacterium transfers a set of genes from its root-inducing (Ri) plasmid into the plant genome, which causes hairy root disease, resulting in the formation of fast-growing root tissues known as hairy roots. The steps for establishing a hairy root culture typically involve the following:

1. Selection of Plant Species: Choose a suitable plant species known for secondary metabolite production.
2. Bacterial Inoculation: Introduce Agrobacterium rhizogenes to plant tissues like leaves or stem segments under sterile in vitro conditions.
3. Co-cultivation: Allow the plant tissues and bacteria to co-cultivate for a period to ensure transfer of the Ri plasmid. This can be done on a nutrient medium.
4. Root Induction: Observe the formation of hairy roots from the infected plant tissues, typically within a few days to weeks.
5. Establishment of Root Culture: Excise the hairy roots and transfer them to a fresh medium to establish a continuous and independent root culture.

As we can see, the correct answer to the question is: Agrobacterium.