Introduction of Bacteriophage Mu into Pseudomonas solanacearum and Rhizobium meliloti using the R Factor RP4

Abstract

Phage Mu-1 and a thermoinducible derivative, Mu-1 cts 62, were inserted into the broad host range R factor RP4. These hybrid plasmids were transferred by conjugation to a phytopathogenic bacterium P. solanacearum GMI1000 and a legume-root nodule bacterium R. meliloti 2011. The Mu genome is transcribed and translated in these new hosts. P. solanacearum (RP4::Mu cts) cultures have a spontaneous production of .apprx. 5 .times. 105 plaque-forming units ml-1 which is similar to the frequency of spontaneous Mu production in Escherichia coli; the Mu production of R. meliloti is lower (.apprx. 102 plaque-forming units ml-1).