Electrotransformation of Bacillus mojavensis with fluorescent protein markers

Gram-positive endophytic bacteria are difficult to transform. To study the interactions between Bacillus mojavensis and maize, a method was developed to transform the microbe by electroporation with three integration plasmids expressing green, cyan and yellow fluorescent proteins (GFP variants). GFP Transformations were verified by antibiotic selection, microscopy and amylase deficiency, based on incorporation of the plasmids through recombination with the amylase gene. Phenotypic expressions of endophytism and fungal antagonisms of the transformants were the same as wild type stains. This represents the first successful transformation of this endophytic species with GFP markers.