| Abstract: | The effect of NaCl salinity on growth and development of somaticembryos of Sapindus trifoliatus L. was examined. Incorporationof 25 and 50 mol m–3 NaCl into the medium greatly increasedthe growth and development of somatic embryos and both theseconcentrations favoured the production of secondary embryoids.However, supplementation of 100 mol m–3 NaCl to the mediumdid not have any significant effect on the growth and developmentof somatic embryos. On the other hand, the culturing of proembryostructures in medium containing 200 mol m–3 NaCl resultedin complete death within 7 d of salt exposure. Analysis of somatic embryos revealed that, upon salinization,they accumulated Na+ and Cl– in significant amounts butthe content of Na+ was much less compared to that of Cl–.Addition of NaCl (up to 50 mol m–3) in the medium resultedin a considerable increase in the K+ content of somatic embryos.The content of proline in somatic embryos, however, increasedsubstantially in response to salinization. The amount of freesterols, steryl glycosides, steryl esters, and phospholipidsalso rose to higher values in salt-affected somatic embryos.The results suggest that somatic embryos of S. trifoliatus cantolerate concentrations of NaCl up to 100 mol m–3 withoutaffecting growth and that they have sufficient cellular mechanismsto tolerate salinity at relatively high levels. Key words: Salinity, somatic embryo, sterols, phospholipids |
