Effective [beta]-lactam antibiotics for Agrobacterium tumefaciens suppression in indica rice calli

It was evaluated the antibacterial activity of seven β-lactam antibiotics against A. tumefaciens strain EHA105, living in indica rice calli. For detection of persistent Agrobacterium in callus tissues, homogenates of infected calli were spread over LB agar plates to count colony forming units per gram of calli. Agrobacterium growth was completely suppressed during plant regeneration at 250 mg/l of all of the antibiotics tested. Also it was appraised the effect of β-lactams on callus growth and plant regeneration. A similar tendency of increased calli fresh weight with 100 mg/l and 250 mg/l of all antibiotics was proven. But the use of 500 mg/l caused decreasing of callus growth.About 80% of calli formed shoots in a month when we used 100 mg/l or 250 mg/l of β-lactam during the regeneration stage. Two morphogenic responses were distinguished during regeneration stage: somatic embryogenesis and adventitious shoots organogenesis.