Effects of antibiotics and bialaphos on the growth and development of embryogenic callus cultures of Muscari armeniacum

Effects of 4 potentially selective agents for transformed cells, 3 antibiotics [kanamycin, geneticin (G418) and hygromycin] and bialaphos, as well as 2 antibiotics for eliminating Agrobacterium, carbenicillin and cefotaxime on growth and somatic embryogenesis of embryogenic calli of Muscari armeniacum cv. Blue Pearl were evaluated. Callus growth was completely inhibited by 75 mg dm−3 hygromycin or 4 mg dm−3 bialaphos, and somatic embryos were never produced on media containing 25 mg dm−3 hygromycin or 3 mg dm−3 bialaphos. Kanamycin and G418 less inhibited growth and somatic embryogenesis of the calli. On the contrary, carbenicillin and cefotaxime promoted both callus growth and somatic embryogenesis at all concentrations tested.