Selection for NaCl Tolerance in Cell Culture of Three Canary Island Tomato Land Races. I. Recovery of Tolerant Plantlets from NaCl-Tolerant Cell Strains

Abstract

Seeds from two cultivated land races of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill, from the island of Fuerteventura and one wild Lycopersicon from the volcanic mountains of the island of Gran Canaria were germinated in MS media + 0, 1.2, 2.4, 3.6, and 5.8 g/1 NaCl. Organogenetic calli from cotyledon, leaf and shoot apex were generated directly in MS + 5 mg/1 BA and 0.5 mg/1 IAA in the same NaCl concentrations. NaCl did not inhibit callus production but reduced organogenesis. After 210 days, NaCl concentration was proportionally increased to 5.8, 10, 15, and 20 g/1. Different tolerant strains appered in the same callus, allowing us to obtain organogenetic calli which tolerated 20 g/1 NaCl in all genotypes, and plantlets from callus grown on 15 g/1 in all genotypes.