Growth Characteristic Changes during Salinity Adaptation of the Wild Tomato Species L. pennellii

Abstract

Calluses of the wild salt-tolerant tomato species L. pennellii have been used to determine the changes induced by salinity on the growth characteristics as well as on the ionic contents along the first four subcultures, with the aim of determining the adaptation capacity of the cells to salinity. The calluses grown in saline medium showed similar RGRs to those in control medium up to the 3(rd) subculture; in the 4(th), the callus RGR increased significantly with salinity, indicating the high adaptation capacity of the salt tolerant species to salinity. The salt-adaptation of L. pennellii resulted not only in an increased growth rate but also in increased cell volume. The enhanced growth of salt adapted cells was related to the capacity to maintain the water content and to the increased saline ion uptake.