cance of a simple salt requirement test in the pathogenic Agrobacterium species

Global warming causes drought in some area and simultaneously fl oods in other areas (IPCC, 2001). Such climate changes lead to excess and poor salt concentrations in soil in the corresponding areas, respectively. Zahran (2001) reports serious effects on microfl ora including rhizobia because of salt concentrations in soil. Salt content in soil also strongly affects plant growth and productivity. Alteration of the soil microfl ora and the plant physiological condition may result in frequent infection by phytopathogens. Therefore, it is worthwhile to study more about the response of phytopathogenic and symbiotic microorganisms to salts in order to control diseases and improve crop yields. Crown gall and hairy root diseases are caused by Agrobacterium species harboring a Ti plasmid and J. Gen. Appl. Microbiol., 55, 35‒41 (2009)