Twelve biotype III isolates of Agrobacterium tumefaciens that belong to three opine types were mated in planta with a plasmid-free biotype I recipient strain. When selection for tartrate utilization was imposed, seven of the 12 mating combinations resulted in transconjugants. In six combinations, large plasmids were transferred from the donor strains capable of tartrate utilization. In four of the six combinations, the transferred plasmids could be distinguished from the Ti plasmids and were named Tr plasmids. Tr plasmids form a diverse group; they differ in size, transfer frequency, and stability in a biotype I chromosomal background, and three of them were self-conjugal.