Transformation of Sinorhizobium meliloti MTCC 100 and Mesorhizobium ciceri TAL 620 by CaCl2 method

Abstract

The CaCl2 method, commonly used for transformation of Escherichia coli, was modified and used to develop a simpler and easier transformation method for Rhizobia sp. Two species of Rhizobia, Sinorhizobium meliloti MTCC 100 and Mesorhizobium ciceri TAL 620, were transformed with the 13.2 kb binary vector pGA482. At an optical density of 0.4, the transformation efficiencies in Sinorhizobium meliloti MTCC 100 and Mesorhizobium ciceri TAL 620 were 104 and 103, respectively. Competent cells of Sinorhizobium meliloti MTCC 100 were prepared at different growth intervals and transformed by the same vector. A maximum transformation efficiency of 104 was achieved at an optical density of 0.5.