A Study on Endogenous Level of Kanamycin Resistance of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Investigation was undertaken to study the endogenous level of Kanamycin resistance of Sesamum indicum genotypes under varied concentrations to Kanamycin antibiotic (0 to 150 mg/l). S. indicum genotypes were highly sensitive to Kanamycin exposure; seed germinability decreased with increase in Kanamycin concentration on MS media supplemented with growth regulators (NAA @ 0.5 mg/l, BAP @ 1.5 mg/l and Kinetin @ 1.5mg/l). Seedlings bleached and failed to induce callus irrespective of Kanamycin concentrations whilst the seedlings induced callus and callus proliferated in the absence of Kanamycin. Further, the well-grown callus failed to proliferate on MS with Kanamycin indicating the sensitivity of the callus for proliferation also. The findings are discussed in light of the usage of nptII gene encoding neomycin phospho-transferase, a commonly used selectable marker, which induces Kanamycin resistance for genetic transformation studies in sesame.