GoldBio’s LBA4404 competent cells support high-efficiency Agrobacterium-mediated transformation for a range of plant systems, including tobacco, tomato, and switchgrass. The LBA4404 strain carries rifampicin resistance and an octopine-type Ti plasmid (pAL4404) with the vir genes needed for T-DNA transfer, but without self-transport capabilities. These cells are well suited for genomic or cDNA library construction and have been validated for use in both routine plant transformation and more challenging species. Several formats are available, including electrocompetent and chemically competent options, and all are supplied with pCAMBIA1391z control plasmid and recovery media for ease of use.
Among the variants in this collection are animal-free options grown without animal-derived components, as well as the Auxo-Agro® methionine auxotrophic strains. The auxotrophic design supports more controlled growth, especially during co-cultivation, where it helps minimize bacterial overgrowth even when antibiotics are used. Also available are versions featuring pSuperAgro™ v4, which enhances transformation efficiency by modulating ethylene and GABA activity during infection. These options give you greater flexibility in selecting the strain that best fits your plant system and needs.
