The potential for biological control of crown gall disease on grapevines

Crown gall is caused by the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Non-pathogenic isolates of this species which produce pathogen-specific toxins, called agrocins, have been used successfully as biological control agents on a variety of plants. To date, however, no biocontrol agent has been isolated which can protect grapevines from this economically important disease. A better understanding of the genetic bases of agrocin production and pathogen—host interaction, aided by the application of genetic engineering techniques, may lead to the development of effective control measures.