Abstract

In this research, co-adaptation of the Calli of Solanum tuberosum, raised from petioles, to the presence of lithium (LiCl) and sodium chloride (NaCl) was studied. The cultures were adapted with LiCl in the absence of an osmotic stress and the response of adapted and unadapted calli to salinity was investigated. Undifferentiated callus growth was induced in S. tuberosum by the addition of 2 mg/l 2,4 dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), 0.25 mg/l kinetin to Murashige and Skoog medium. Subcultures were subjected to an incremental increase in LiCl to obtain adapted lines. Adapted and undapted calli were grown with LiCl and NaCl and the tissue content of Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and proline levels were determined. Either 40 mM LiCl or 100 mM NaCl inhibited unadapted calli by more than 50%, while adapted calli grew normally under these conditions. The adapted calli exhibited a lower K⁺content with or without salt and showed a lower accumulation of Na⁺ at 100 mM NaCl. The tissue K⁺ and Mg²⁺ contents decreased and their proline levels increased with salinity. A co-adaptation phenomenon is induced by LiCl that involves a regulation of K⁺ and Na⁺ contents and an accumulation of proline, which also brings about tolerance to osmotic effects of salt. This data is highly useful for devising breeding and molecular modification strategies for stress tolerance.

Key words: Cations, proline, osmotic adjustment, salt tolerance, Solanum tuberosum.

Abbreviation

2,4-D, 2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid; RGR, relative growth rate;LiCl, lithium chloride; NaCl, sodium chloride.