Effect of Fungicides and Antibiotics to control Microbial Contamination in Hevea Cultures

In vitro toxicity and microbial contamination control efficiency of three fungicides- benomyl, bavistin and fytolan and three antibiotics-nystatin, amphoterincin-B and streptomycin were assessed by incorporating them in the Hevea. shoot culture medium. Of the different compounds tested no single compound could effectively control contamination of cultures. Among the different combinations tried, nystatin (25 mg/l) along with streptomycin (10 mg/l) was found to be non-toxic to Hevea cultures and also controlled microbial growth. In this combination, growth enhancements as well multiple shoot induction of nodal cultures and also shoot elongation with new flushes were also noticed. This study indicated the need of fungicides/bactericides as adjuvant in tissue culture medium for obtaining sterile and viable shoots.