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Endophytic Bacteria in Banana In Vitro Cultures: Molecular Identification, Antibiotic Susceptibility, and Plant Survival

Microbial contamination is a common problem that causes significant losses in plant micropropagation systems. The present study reports on the identification and control of bacterial contaminants in banana in vitro cultures. Twelve isolates belonging to Bacillus pumilus (S2), Bacillus subtilis (R2 and M4), Geobacillus stearothermophilus (S1, S3, S4, P2, M3 and R3) and Paenibacillus spp. (P1, R1 and M2) were identified by sequencing of 16S rRNA, gyrA or gyrB genes. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed with the disk diffusion method on bacterial isolates using 36 antimicrobial agents. Some antibiotics, notably Ticarcillin, Penicillin, Ampicillin, Cefazolin and Imipenem, had a broader range of bactericidal activity than others did. When contaminated axillary shoot cultures of banana were treated with 100 or 200 mg·L−1 of ticarcillin, ampicillin or penicillin the bacteria were eliminated, but a reduction in shoot multiplication and growth was observed. These findings contribute to minimizing the losses in the commercial micropropagation of banana.