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An evaluation of antibiotics for the elimination ofXanthomonas campestris pv.pelargonii (Brown) fromPelargonium x domesticum cv. ‘Grand Slam’ explants in vitro

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Abstract

A range of antibiotics was evaluated for activity againstXanthomonas campestris pv.pelargonii (Xep) on diagnostic sensitivity testing and plant tissue culture media. Many of the antibiotics showed reduced or no activity on the latter. Tetracycline and cefotaxime, chosen for further investigation, were screened for light stability under plant culture regimes. Tetracycline was inactivated in photosynthetic photon fluxes of 22 μmol m-2 s-1 and above. The minimum bacteriocidal concentration of cefotaxime was determined in bacteriological and plant tissue culture media. Cefotaxime was further tested for phytoxicity and ability to eliminate Xcp from deliberately infected explants. Cefotaxime was shown to eliminate contamination and stimulate the growth of the plant tissue cultures up 500 mg l-1.

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Abbreviations

DST:

diagnostic sensitivity testing medium

MBC:

minimum bacteriocidal concentration

TCM:

half-strength Murashige & Skoog (1962) basal plant tissue culture medium

Xcp:

Xanthomonas campestris pv.pelargonii

BA:

benzyladenine

2,4-d :

2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

OD:

optical density

PPF:

photosynthetic photon flux

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Science, University College, Cork, Ireland

    Carol Barrett & Alan C. Cassells

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  1. Carol Barrett
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  2. Alan C. Cassells
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Barrett, C., Cassells, A.C. An evaluation of antibiotics for the elimination ofXanthomonas campestris pv.pelargonii (Brown) fromPelargonium x domesticum cv. ‘Grand Slam’ explants in vitro. Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 36, 169–175 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00037716

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00037716

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