Selection of Tolerant Lines to Salinity Derived from Durum Wheat ( Triticum durum Desf.) in Vitro Culture

Abstract

The genetic variability is considered as the major principle of plant breeding for durum wheat. This variability can be induced in vitro by selection pressure exerted by stress factors such as salinity in order to regenerate the vitro plantlets tolerant. This study aims in the first step in the regeneration of plantlets tolerant to salinity from mature embryos culture derived from two Tunisian durum wheat varieties: improved (Razzek) and landrace (Jenah Khotifa (JK)) varieties. The tolerance evaluation to salt stress was applied in vitro (100 mmol∙l−1 NaCl) and was based on various parameters. Our results showed that JK variety was distinguished by a stable response for all parameters tested: average weight of callus (368.1 mg for control and 307 mg under salt stress), callus regenerated percentage (36.6% for control and 35.7% under salt stress) and green shoots number/callus (17 for control and 17 under salt stress).