It is likely that Cxc has been introduced into Bermuda grass in Minnesota, however, it is unlikely that Cxc or the Bermuda grass host will survive the winter conditions. Extensive field, greenhouse, and laboratory research by CGI and academic cooperators has demonstrated minimal likelihood of dispersal from the release site. The bacterium is entirely dependent on the host plant for survival, is not transmitted by insects, seed or pollen, nor is it dispersed in soil or runoff water. The only situation in which a substantial degree of mechanical transmission of Cxc could be anticipated would be in a mowed turf or forage crop. Bacteria exchange genetic information by conjugation, transformation, and transduction.
Conjugation is mediated by plasmids.
Several plasmids have been reported to transfer to several plant pathogenic bacteria, including Clavibacter michiganense. The ability of the plasmid to transfer to Cxc was tested using filter mating. The recombinant antibiotic resistance markers were tested for transmission to other Cxc isolates and to other related Clavibacter species and genera that may occupy a similar niche. There is no evidence that the marker DNA sequences from Cxc can be transferred to bacteria of the same genus or species. Laboratory and field studies in Maryland indicate that Cxc was unable to persist in the environment sufficiently to carry over into subsequent growing seasons.