Antibiotics

Antibiotics may be added to plant tissue culture media to combat contamination by bacteria and fungi. Some types of antibiotics are heat labile, and must be added after either being filter-sterilized, or after first having been dissolved in a solvent that renders the solution sterile.

Some types of antibiotics may be added in order to get rid of potential contamination from bacteria used in the production of transgenic plants.

The type and concentration of the antibiotic used depends upon several factors, including the crop, the type of contamination being fought, and what is available to the user.