The present disclosure provides novel compositions and methods for the production and use of Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains (for example LBA4404) that are deficient in RecA activity relative to the parent strain. Combinations with other gene-deficient-strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens are also disclosed. Specifically, two exemplary s recA minus strains, UIA777 where chloramphenicol resistant gene disrupting the recA gene and UIA770 where kanamycin resistant gene disrupting the recA gene are provided.