Agrobacterium tumefaciens

A naturally occurring bacterium that is capable of inserting its DNA (genetic information) into plants, resulting in a type of injury to the plant known as crown gall. Among others, Monsanto Company has developed a way to stop Agrobacterium tumefaciens from causing crown gall, while maintaining its ability to insert DNA into plant cells, and now uses Agrobacterium tumefaciens as a vehicle to insert desired genes into plants (e.g., the gene causing overproduction of CP4 EPSP synthase, thus conferring resistance to glyphosate-containing herbicide).