Cefotaxime, a cephalosporin antibiotic, and different ethylene inhibitors, such as silver nitrate, cobalt chloride, nickel chloride and O-acetyl salicylic acid, significantly delayed the loss of regeneration potential in embryogenic cultures of Pennisetum americanum. In the presence of these chemicals, ethylene content in the atmosphere of the culture vessel was less than that of the control. Cefotaxime, silver nitrate and O-acetyl salicyclic acid did not have any effect on callus growth based on fresh weight, while growth based on dry weight was enhanced by O-acetyl salicyclic acid.