The use of antibiotics in the culture of non-sterile plant protoplasts

Abstract

The use of antibiotics to control infections in cultures of protoplasts of leaf mesophyll cells has been examined. The antifungal agents nystatin and amphotericin B were non-toxic to protoplasts at concentrations that controlled fungal growth (25 units and 2.5 μg/ml respectively). Of the antibacterial agents examined, only carbenicillin and, to a lesser extent, gentamicin were active against the bacteria usually encountered whilst still permitting normal protoplast metabolism and regeneration. The most satisfactory control of contaminating microorganisms was obtained with a combination of nystatin (25 units/ml) or amphotericin B (2.5 μg/ml) and carbenicillin (250 μg/ml).