African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 3 (9), pp. 473-476, September 2004           
ISSN 1684–5315 © 2004 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Microbial contaminants of cultured Hibiscus cannabinus and Telfaria occidentalis tissues

Odutayo O. I. ¹*, Oso R. T.,¹ Akinyemi B. O.¹ and Amusa N. A.²

¹Dept of Biological Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago- Iwoye, Nigeria.

²Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, PMB 5029 Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-Mail: naamusa@softhome.net.

Accepted 10 August, 2004

Nine microbial contaminants comprising of five bacteria and four fungi species were isolated from Hibiscus cannabinus  and Telfaria occidentalis cultured tissues.  The rate of occurrence of bacteria isolates was higher than that of fungi. The bacterial isolates includes Pseudomonas syringae pv phaseolicoli,  Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, Corynebacterium sp and Erwinia sp. While fungal contaminats includes Alterneria tenius, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium culmorum. Possible sources of contamination and means of eliminating these contaminants is discussed.

Key words: Micro-propagation, plant tissue culture, bacterial and fungal isolates, contamination.