Agrobacterium Transformation: A Boost to Agricultural Biotechnology: Agrobacterium Transformation in Agricultural Biotechnology

Conventional breeding methods alone cannot feed the extra hungry mouths, as a result of world population explosion. Agrobacterium transformation has been used as a tool to transfer transgenic genes with desirable characteristics to varieties of crop plants which has succeeded in boosting agricultural production.In less than 20 years, the use of Agrobacterium to genetically transform plants has advanced from a dream to a reality.This has reduced crop losses from pest and diseases,improved the nutrient efficiency of food and animal feeds;extended post harvest losses with increased shelf life of fruits and vegetables; and increased the stress tolerance of crop plants allowing them to tolerate various environmental extremes such as cold and drought.It is difficult to think of an area of plant science research that has not benefited from this technology.