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Molecular identification and antibiotic control of endophytic bacterial contaminants from micropropagated Aglaonema cultures

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Abstract

Endophytic bacterial contamination is a major constraint to the establishment and maintenance of aseptic Aglaonema cultures. The objectives of the present study included the identification of endophytic bacterial contaminants from micropropagated Aglaonema cultures and the investigation of effective antibiotic treatment for their control. Bacterial contaminants isolated from 181 infected stem nodal explants of six Aglaonema cultivars were identified following the amplification of 16S ribosomal RNA gene and partial sequence analysis. A total of thirteen different bacterial species were identified and these were found to be mostly associated with soil and water. The bacteria were subsequently subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility and minimum inhibitory concentration tests. Three antibiotics, including gentamicin, tetracycline and chloramphenicol, were selected for their effectiveness at low concentrations of 4–32 mg l−1 to inhibit bacterial growth in most of the bacterial species found in the present study. The incorporation of these antibiotics into the culture medium was found to effectively reduce the incidence of bacterial contamination in three of the four Aglaonema cultivars tested. Therefore, sanitation of the irrigation water and growth substrate while raising the stock plants, as well as the appropriate use of antibiotics during the in vitro culture stage will be important factors governing the success of Aglaonema micropropagation in the future.

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Acknowledgments

This research was financially supported by a grant from the Council of Agriculture, Taiwan (Contract No. 100AS-1.1.1-FD-Z2).

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  1. Department of Tropical Agriculture and International Cooperation, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, No.1 Shueh Fu Road, Neipu, Pingtung, 91201, Taiwan

    Jong-Yi Fang & Yu-Rong Hsu

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  1. Jong-Yi Fang
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Correspondence to Jong-Yi Fang.

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Fang, JY., Hsu, YR. Molecular identification and antibiotic control of endophytic bacterial contaminants from micropropagated Aglaonema cultures. Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 110, 53–62 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-012-0129-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-012-0129-6

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