Effect of NaCl Salinity on Somatic Embryo Development in Sapindus trifoliatus L

• Published in: Journal of experimental botany 1991-03, Vol.42 (3), p.401-406
• Main Authors: UNNIKRISHNAN, S K., PRAKASH, L., JOSEKUTTY, P. C., MEHTA, A. R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Callus; Cell lines; Esters; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Phospholipids; Plant physiology and development; Plants; Salinity; Salt tolerance; somatic embryo; Somatic embryos; Sterols; Table salt; Tissue cultures, protoplasts
• ISSN: 0022-0957; 1460-2431
• DOI: 10.1093/jxb/42.3.401

The effect of NaCl salinity on growth and development of somatic embryos of Sapindus trifoliatus L. was examined. Incorporation of 25 and 50 mol m−3 NaCl into the medium greatly increased the growth and development of somatic embryos and both these concentrations favoured the production of secondary embryoids. However, supplementation of 100 mol m−3 NaCl to the medium did not have any significant effect on the growth and development of somatic embryos. On the other hand, the culturing of proembryo structures in medium containing 200 mol m−3 NaCl resulted in complete death within 7 d of salt exposure. Analysis of somatic embryos revealed that, upon salinization, they accumulated Na+ and Cl− in significant amounts but the content of Na+ was much less compared to that of Cl−. Addition of NaCl (up to 50 mol m−3) in the medium resulted in a considerable increase in the K+ content of somatic embryos. The content of proline in somatic embryos, however, increased substantially in response to salinization. The amount of free sterols, steryl glycosides, steryl esters, and phospholipids also rose to higher values in salt-affected somatic embryos. The results suggest that somatic embryos of S. trifoliatus can tolerate concentrations of NaCl up to 100 mol m−3 without affecting growth and that they have sufficient cellular mechanisms to tolerate salinity at relatively high levels.