Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation to improve rooting ability of eucalypts.

In an attempt to improve rooting in in vitro propagated Eucalyptus clones, root-inducing genes on the Ri plasmids of three Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains were inserted into the Eucalyptus genome. Root development was monitored in vitro and after the plantlets had hardened off. Only transformed roots grew as root cultures in hormone-free liquid medium. The potential use of this procedure for improving rooting of clonal material is discussed.