Is Agrobacterium-based gene transfer efficient with both monocots and dicots?

✅Explanation:
Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer is a widely used technique for introducing new genes into plants. While it was initially discovered and optimized for dicots (plants with two seed leaves), it has been successfully adapted for use in monocots (plants with one seed leaf) as well.

• Efficiency:
● Dicots: Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer is generally more efficient in dicots compared to monocots. This is due to various factors, including differences in cell wall structure, presence of specific receptors for Agrobacterium attachment, and regulatory mechanisms within the plant cells.
● Monocots: Despite initial challenges, several advancements have improved the efficiency of Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer in monocots. These include optimizing culture conditions, using specific Agrobacterium strains and vectors, and employing alternative transformation methods like particle bombardment.

• Examples:
● Dicots: Agrobacterium has been used to introduce desirable traits like disease resistance, herbicide tolerance, and improved nutritional content in numerous dicot crops like tomato, soybean, cotton, and tobacco.
● Monocots: This method has also been successful in engineering monocots like maize, rice, wheat, and barley, leading to enhanced yield, stress tolerance, and biofortification.