Effect of carbenicillin and cefotaxime on somatic embryogenesis of Sitka spruce (<i>Picea sitchensis</i>(Bong.) Carr.)

Abstract

Carbenicillin prevented the development of mature somatic embryos, reduced early stage embryos by >90% and tissue growth by 50%. Cefotaxime had no effect on overall tissue growth, but reduced the development of early and mature embryos by 20% and 66–80%, respectively. Carbenicillin should not be used for transformation of Sitka spruce.