Analysis of Actinobiota in the Tobacco Rhizosphere with a Heterologous Choline Oxidase Gene from Arthrobacter globiformis

Plants Nicotiana tabacum L. with the choline oxidase gene ( codA ) responsible for the synthesis of glycine-betaine by agrobacterial transformation were obtained. In order to identify possible environmental consequences during the cultivation of transformants, microbial complexes in the rhizosphere were studied. Soil actinomycetes were used as a bioindication group of microorganisms. The abundance, taxonomic composition, and functional structure of the rhizosphere complexes of the original Samsun variety and independent transgenic lines CodA7 and CodA17 with the different codA gene were expressed. There were no significant differences in the taxonomic structure or the occurrence of phytopathogenic fungal antagonists or cellulolytic agents in the rhizosphere of the original plants and transformants. The structure of actinomycete complexes of transformants was characterized by variability comparable in magnitude with variability due to the stress effect of the soil background.