Biopolymers and cell. 2002; 18 (4): 319 - 323

Role of the exopolygalacturonase gene in interaction of Klebsiella oxytoca VN13 with wheat roots

G. L. Kovtunovych, O. K Lor, N. O. Kozyrovska

An insertionally inactivated copy of the exopolygalacturonase (pehX) gene of K. oxytoca VN13 was used for the wild type gene substitution by reciprocal recombination. The ratio of the mutant and wild type bacterial cells in plant associated population has not being changed within a 4 week-period of the plant vegetation. Both types of cells penetrated inside the roots equally. Inactivation of the pehX-gene is not essential for the wheat root internal colonization, and this may be connected with substrate exospecificity of the enzyme and does not exclude a role of other pectinases in the penetrating process.