Influence of antibiotic cefotaxime on somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in indica rice.

An antibiotic, cefotaxime (Omnatax) has been found to promote somatic embryogenesis and subsequent plant regeneration in vitro in indica-type basmati rice cultures. Response was highly genotype specific. The number, mass and morphology of the calli formed on the scutellar tissues were dependent on the growth medium (with or without cefotaxime). The embryogenic nature of nodular calli was confirmed through histological analysis and their plant regeneration ability. The calli of variety Pusa basmati 1 grown on medium supplemented with cefotaxime (100 mg/L) exhibited up to 70.5% plant regeneration as compared to control (51.51%). Plants regenerated from emryogenic calli were phenotypically normal and identical to seed-derived plants and exhibited normal fertility. A limited humidity and an optimal aeration of the culture tubes further enhanced the frequency of somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration.