Effects of Antibiotics on the Survival of Agrobacterium tumefaciens on Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) Cultures

O.O. Agarry,* O.B. Olorunfemi, Y.A. Babarinde and F.C. Adetuyi

Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704. Akure. Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

Transgenic plants of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) were generated using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The antibiotics that eliminated the Agrobacterium tumefaciens totally were 200mg/l ampicillin and 500mg/l cefotaxime. The co-cultivated embryos muddled with Agrobacterium were cultured on different concentration of Carbenicillin, Augmentin, Ampicillin and Cefotaxime. The surviving shoots were transferred every ten days to ensure cleaning and contact with the medium. At each transfer the number of surviving shoot decreased due to shock of Agrobacterium contamination until it stabilized. Those plated on 200mg/l Ampicillin and Cefotaxime eventually produced new green healthier auxiliary shoots which could be transferred to the soil.

Keywords: Transgenic plants, Antibiotics, Agrobacterium tumefaciens.