Antibiotics and Antifungals

[Kevin]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has every tried putting antibiotics or antifungal agents into complex media for plating of orchid seeds?
Do you think that these might effect germination? I don't see why they would, but I'd like to hear other's thoughts and/or experience.

With thanks,
Kevin

[Steve Garvie]

This would NOT be a clever use of antibiotics!
Extending the use of antibiotics beyond that of human ( & vet) medicine will simply encourage increased bacterial resistance in human pathogens. We are already losing ground to bacteria such as MRSA, ESBL-producing E. coli, etc.

For example the bacterial genus Pseudomonas contains a number of bacteria which can cause "rots" in plants, and these same bacteria are probably capable of sharing genetic material with Pseudomonas strains which are pathogenic in humans. Inappropriate use of antibiotics in the former will result in increased antibiotic resistance in the latter.

[Kevin]

Steve, thanks for your reply to my enquiry,

I do get your point and agree that there has been/ is still an overreliance on antibiotics in society in general and that this has given rise to resistance in many disease causing "bugs".

However with the greatest of respect, I don't think you should equate the use of antifungals and antimicrobials in a scientific context (they are used routinely in cell culture systems in most laboratories around the world to prevent contamination) and the overuse of antibiotics in the household (for example antimicrobial household sprays) or the over prescription of antibiotics.

The two things are completely different. If any of the Pleione flasks display a bacterial/fungal etc infection whether the media contained antibiotics or not this plate would be destroyed in the appropriate manner therby destroying all of the resistant "bug" - that bug never having been allowed out of the enclosed environment would not present a problem.

This is not the same as presenting the "bug" with a low level state of antibiotics and allowing the organism to proliferate until resistance is aquired as is the case you outlined.

Regards,
Kevin

[Slug Killer]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has every tried putting antibiotics or antifungal agents into complex media for plating of orchid seeds?
Do you think that these might effect germination? I don't see why they would, but I'd like to hear other's thoughts and/or experience.

With thanks,
Kevin

I'm sure all the major plant laboratories have tried various antifungal agents in their media but to be honest if you sterilize the seed before hand and make sure there is no contamination during transfer to flask, there should be no problems. I can't remember the last time I had an infection. I'd advise making up your flasks with media and storing then for a few weeks before sowing any seed just in case the flasks are already contaminated which would result in wasted seed. For Pleione as long as you use large enough flasks then I no longer think its necessary to use filters/vents and this helps reduce further contamination. Does not seem to make any difference to the size and growth of the flasked Pleione.

There is a product available called PPM (plant preservative mixture) which is meant to kill off any infections. EXPENSIVE.
http://www.plantcelltechnology.com/plant-preservative-mixture-ppm/