Issue Date
2025
Abstract
Banana (Musa acuminata) and abaca (Musa textilis) are economically important crops in the Philippines. However, both crops are increasingly threatened by disease outbreaks, which can be mitigated through mass propagation using tissue culture techniques. Tissue culture propagation, however, is often compromised by bacterial contamination originating from either environmental or endophytic sources. In this study, bacterial isolates from environmental surfaces and tissue-cultured explants were characterized using morphological and biochemical profiling. Environmental isolates consisted of Gram-positive and Gram-negative short rods, whereas tissue culture contaminants were predominantly Gram-negative short rods and a single Gram- positive coccus. This morphological distinction suggests that the tissue culture contaminants are more likely endophytic in origin. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed that tobramycin and gentamicin were broadly effective against the isolates, and that combining either antibiotic with cefazolin or azithromycin may provide complete inhibition. Our findings demonstrate that partial phenotypic characterization can sufficiently guide antimicrobial control strategies in plant tissue culture.
Source or Periodical Title
UP Los Baños Journal
Volume
23
Issue
1
Page
99-119
Document Type
Article
College
College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)
Language
English
Subject
Endophytes, In vitro propagation, Banana, Abaca, Surface sterilization
Recommended Citation
Tejoso, Brendell Philip B.; David, Lourna Mae Q.; Bernardo, Emmanuel L.; Sandoval, Carlo Miguel C.; and Jamora, Renard M., "Antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial contaminants in tissue-cultured Musa Acuminata ‘Lakatan’ and Musa Textilis ‘Inosa’" (2025). Journal Article. 6500.
https://www.ukdr.uplb.edu.ph/journal-articles/6500