Transgenic plants of Jincheng orange (Citrus sinensis Osbeck) and Newhall navel orange (C. sinensis Osbeck)
containing antibacterial peptide genes Shiva A and Cecropin B were successfully obtained by a novel
Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of the mature axillary buds. PCR and Southern blot
analysis of the transgenic plants verified that the Shiva A and Cecropin B genes were integrated into
the citrus genome. The transgenic plants began to blossom and bear fruit in the 2nd year after grafting
on trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata Raf) rootstock in greenhouse. Water-soluble extracts from
transgenic citrus leaves exhibit in vitro suppressive effects on Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri, suggesting
that the expressed products of Shiva A and Cecropin B in citrus retain their native antibacterial
activities. Artificial inoculation in greenhouse and open field further indicates significantly increased
resistance of transgenic plants to X. axonopodis pv. citri when compared with non-transgenic lines. No
significant difference was found in the content of total soluble solids, total acidity, reduced sugar content
and other fruit characteristics between transgenic and non-transgenic plants. In this present study, 11
transgenic lines were obtained from 40 transgenic lines, showing enhanced resistance to citrus canker
disease.