The effect of cefotaxime on the growth and regeneration of callus from four varieties of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.).

Recently it has been reported that the cephalosporin antibiotic cefotaxime increases growth, regeneration and embryogenesis in wheat calli. We investigated the effect of cefotaxime on callus initiated from immature embryos of four barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties. In calli cultured in the presence of antibiotic callus growth was up to 45% greater than in controls and the frequency of regenerating calli was increased by up to 80%. There was an apparent interaction of the antibiotic with genotype and the 2,4-D in the medium.