The effect of antibiotics on the inhibition of callus induction and plant regeneration from cotyledons of sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.).

Callus induction and plantlet regeneration from cotyledonary expiants of sugarbeet was observed utilizing two media formulations, MS and a modified MS termed RVIM both supplemented with 1.0 μg/ml BAP as the sole growth regulator. Callus induction was genotype dependent The USDA line 8787 produced the highest response for callus induction followed by 'Betaseed 4587' and the USDA line C600. This order was conserved on both media formulations. Shoot induction was consistently higher averaging 32% from the RVIM formulation over the 3 genotypes compared to 25% from MS. The antibiotics geneticin, gentamycin, hygromycin, kanamycin and phleomycin were screened with the modified RV system utilizing 'Betaseed 4587'. Callus growth was inhibited by levels of 50 μg/ml geneticin, 150 μg/ml gentamycin, 10 μg/ml hygromycin, 150 μg/ml kanamycin and 20 μg/ml phleomycin. The results indicate that the concentrations of antibiotics used to inhibit callus induction will be sufficient for use as selectable markers in transformation experiments with Beta vulgaris.