MICROWAVE STERILIZATION OF TISSUE CULTURE MEDIA

Authors:	E.M.A. Youssef, G.A. Amin
Keywords:	microwave-oven, Populus alba, in vitro, micropropagation
Abstract: Culture media microwaved for 15 min at 390 W or for 5, 10 or 15 min at 520 W gave 96%-100% sterilization rates and totally inhibited the growth of Bacillus subtilis, B. megatherium and B. coagulans. Explants of Populus alba grown on medium exposed to 260 W microwave for 5 min showed the highest frequency of survival and shoot proliferation, while those cultured on medium treated with 520 W for 10 min resulted in the tallest shootlets and greatest number of leaves per shootlet. Although the rooting response and number of roots formed per shoot explant were similar on microwave- or autoclave- treated media, the longest roots occurred on media microwaved for 15 min at 130 W or for 10 or 15 min at 390 W or 520 W.

Source: http://www.actahort.org/members/showpdf?booknrarnr=560_104 on May 7, 2012.