Use of antibiotics to control bacterial contamination during in vitro micropropagation of sugarcane

Abstract

The role of antibiotics in controlling bacterial contamination and their effect on multiplication and growth of shoot cultures was investigated using sugarcane variety Co 05011. The results showed that Cefotaxime was the most effective antibiotic followed by Streptomycin and Tetracycline in controlling the bacterial contamination. Addition of Cefotaxime (250 mg/l) significantly reduced the frequency of bacterial contamination (38.3 percent) whereas all the cultures subcultured on the medium devoid of any antibiotic, showed the development of bacteria in the medium. The frequency of contaminated cultures was further reduced to 2.7 and 2.3 percent in presence of 500 and 750 mg/l of Cefotaxime, respectively. However, the antibiotic appeared to be detrimental to the shoot growth at the highest concentration (i.e. 750 mg/l). The rate of shoot multiplication in terms of number of shoots per culture was also highly influenced by the type and concentration of different antibiotics. The highest number of shoots (19.6 shoots per culture) could be recorded in presence of 500 mg/l Cefotaxime indicating the highest rate of shoot multiplication. The shoots developed on this medium were vigorous in growth and healthy in appearance. On the basis of above results it may be concluded that Cefotaxime at a concentration of 500 mg/l can be used for controlling bacterial contamination without any adverse effect on multiplication and growth of shoot cultures duringinvitro micropropagationof sugarcane.