Growth, water content, and solute accumulation of two tobacco cell lines cultured on sodium chloride, dextran, and polyethylene glycol

Simulated drought tolerance was compared for an NaCl-adapted and a nonadapted cell line of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum var. Samsum) to determine the relationship of salt and drought tolerances. The osmotic adjustment and growth of these two lines was followed when cultured on solid media which contained isosmotic concentrations of NaCl, KCl, polyethylene glycol (PEG) or dextran. One line was adapted to growth on 130 millimolar NaCl, but the other was not.     

The halophilic fungus Hortaea werneckii and the halotolerant fungus Aureobasidium pullulans maintain low intracellular cation concentrations in hypersaline environments

Hortaea werneckii and Aureobasidium pullulans, black yeast-like fungi isolated from hypersaline waters of salterns as their natural ecological niche, have been previously defined as halophilic and halotolerant microorganisms, respectively. In the present study we assessed their growth and determined the intracellular cation concentrations of salt-adapted and non-salt-adapted cells of both species at a wide range of salinities (0 to 25% NaCl and 0 to 20% NaCl, respectively). Although 5% NaCl improved the growth of H. werneckii, even the minimal addition of NaCl to the growth medium slowed down the growth rate of A. pullulans, confirming their halophilic and halotolerant nature. Salt-adapted cells of H. werneckii and A. pullulans kept very low amounts of internal Na+ even when grown at high NaCl concentrations and can be thus considered Na+ excluders, suggesting the existence of efficient mechanisms for the regulation of ion fluxes. Based on our results, we can conclude that these organisms do not use K+ or Na+ for osmoregulation. Comparison of cation fluctuations after a hyperosmotic shock, to which nonadapted cells of both species were exposed, demonstrated better ionic homeostasis regulation of H. werneckii compared to A. pullulans. We observed small fluctuations of cation concentrations after a hyperosmotic shock in nonadapted A. pullulans similar to those in salt-adapted H. werneckii, which additionally confirmed better regulation of ionic homeostasis in the latter. These features can be expected from organisms adapted to survival within a wide range of salinities and to occasional exposure to extremely high NaCl concentrations, both characteristic for their natural environment.     

Isolation of sodium chloride tolerant cell lines and plants in finger millet

Sodium chloride tolerant cell lines of finger millet were isolated from embryogenic cultures growing on MS medium supplemented with picloram (2 mg I^-1), kinetin (0.1 mg l^-1) and sodium chloride (1 %) at the end of 6 passages. The sodium chloride tolerant cell lines showed better growth in comparison with control at all concentrations of sodium chloride tested, with optimum growth at 0.25 % NaCl. When the tolerant lines were grown for 3 passages in absence of NaCl, the growth was lower than that of the tolerant lines tested immediately at the end of 6 passages of selection. NaCl tolerant calli had more Na¹ in comparison with control and they regenerated plants in presence of 1 % NaCl, while the control lines failed to differentiate. When screened in a hydroponics system with 1 % NaCl, the tolerant plants grew to maturity while the control plants failed to grow.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> selection of salt tolerant cell lines in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum tuberosum</Emphasis> L.

Cell lines able to grow on media containing 50, 100, 150 or 200 mM NaCl were established from potato callus cultures by direct recurrent selection or gradual selection. In callus subjected to direct selection only small clusters of cells survived on medium with 150 or 200 mM NaCl, whereas on 100 mM small cell portions appear necrotic. When cell lines were obtained by successive subcultures on media with increased concentrations of NaCl, salt-tolerant calli were more compact and developed a greenish colour free from necrotic areas. The response of calli lines grown on media with NaCl was compared to control line. The NaCl-tolerant calli showed a decrease in relative growth rate and water content, with higher reductions in the 150 mM tolerant callus. Lipid peroxidation was increased in 50 mM and 100 mM NaCl-tolerant calli, while in 150 mM tolerant callus remained similar to 100 mM values. There was a significant increase in ascorbic acid content in 100 mM and 150 mM NaCl-tolerant calli as compared to the 50 mM, that was two-fold the value found in the control. Also, the contents of soluble and insoluble proteins increased in salt-tolerant lines. SDS-PAGE of soluble proteins showed the synthesis of specific polypeptides in the presence of NaCl in culture medium and the synthesis of a new polypeptide.     

Selection and breeding for salinity tolerancein vitro

Summary Selection for tolerance to NaCl inCitrus sinensis andC. aurantium has been carried out in agar and suspension cultures. Callus was subjected to culture media containing up to 0.17M NaCl for ten passages. Selected cell lines were grown for three passages on media without salt before further tests on saline media. Four stable tolerant cell lines, differing in degree of tolerance, have been selected fromC. sinensis. Four lines of similar tolerance have been selected fromC. aurantium. The stability of most lines was very satisfactory. MostC. sinensis lines grew well in media containing up to 0.2M NaCl, andC. aurantium lines in media of up to 0.15M NaCl.Embryos were regenerated in most selected cell lines fromC. sinensis and, more sporadically, fromC. aurantium. Addition of 0.5–0.6% NaCl to the media often enhanced embryogenesis. Embryos from a selected line ofC. sinensis showed higher tolerance to NaCl in the medium than comparable embryos from an unselected line.Single embryos derived from both selected and unselected cell lines ofC. sinensis were successfully cloned. A limited comparison of plantlets from one tolerant line (R14) with plantlets from unselected control lines showed better adaptation of the former to salt (0.085 to 0.12M NaCl in the medium), and a lesser degree of leaf burn symptoms.Contribution No. 1045-E, 1984 series.     

The Halophilic Fungus Hortaea werneckii and the Halotolerant Fungus Aureobasidium pullulans Maintain Low Intracellular Cation Concentrations in Hypersaline Environments

Hortaea werneckii and Aureobasidium pullulans, black yeast-like fungi isolated from hypersaline waters of salterns as their natural ecological niche, have been previously defined as halophilic and halotolerant microorganisms, respectively. In the present study we assessed their growth and determined the intracellular cation concentrations of salt-adapted and non-salt-adapted cells of both species at a wide range of salinities (0 to 25% NaCl and 0 to 20% NaCl, respectively). Although 5% NaCl improved the growth of H. werneckii, even the minimal addition of NaCl to the growth medium slowed down the growth rate of A. pullulans, confirming their halophilic and halotolerant nature. Salt-adapted cells of H. werneckii and A. pullulans kept very low amounts of internal Na⁺ even when grown at high NaCl concentrations and can be thus considered Na⁺ excluders, suggesting the existence of efficient mechanisms for the regulation of ion fluxes. Based on our results, we can conclude that these organisms do not use K⁺ or Na⁺ for osmoregulation. Comparison of cation fluctuations after a hyperosmotic shock, to which nonadapted cells of both species were exposed, demonstrated better ionic homeostasis regulation of H. werneckii compared to A. pullulans. We observed small fluctuations of cation concentrations after a hyperosmotic shock in nonadapted A. pullulans similar to those in salt-adapted H.werneckii, which additionally confirmed better regulation of ionic homeostasis in the latter. These features can be expected from organisms adapted to survival within a wide range of salinities and to occasional exposure to extremely high NaCl concentrations, both characteristic for their natural environment.     

Characterization of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plants regenerated from selected NaCl tolerant cell lines

Selection of stable, NaCl tolerant alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cell lines was accomplished by a step-up selection procedure, whereby cell lines originally selected for tolerance at 0.5% NaCl were subsequently selected at 1.0% NaCl. Sodium chloride tolerant cell lines retained tolerance following four subcultures (16 weeks) on control media (0% NaCl). Plants were regenerated from selected NaCl tolerant cell lines of three initial genotypes, one diploid (2n=2x=16) and two tetraploids (2n=4x=32). In addition, plants were regenerated from control cell lines maintained on 0% NaCl media for the same duration. Plants regenerated from NaCl tolerant cell lines were characterized by extensive somaclonal variation compared to plants regenerated from control lines. Morphologically, all plants regenerated from NaCl tolerant cell lines are abnormal and many (44.7%) were extreme dwarfs (maximum height of 5 cm). The grossly aberrant phenotypes prevented an in-depth characterization of many of the plants regenerated from NaCl tolerant cell lines. Most plants regenerated from NaCl tolerant cell lines had unbalanced polyploid chromosome sets with the most extreme cytogenetic variant having 106 chromosomes. In contrast, 98.5% of the plants regenerated from control cell lines were euploid (85% were tetraploid, 15% were octoploid). Isozyme phenotypes of the plants from NaCl tolerant cell lines were also extensively altered, compared to plants from control cell lines. In vitro NaCl tolerance was maintained following plant regeneration for nine of the 12 regenerants tested. Importantly, whole plant NaCl tolerance was expressed in two of the seven regenerated plants tested at the whole plant level; however, only one of these plants has flowered and is both male and female sterile; the other plant has never flowered. Although NaCl tolerant alfalfa cell lines are efficiently selected, the extensive somaclonal variation that accompanied the selection was a deterrent to successful recovery of heritable NaCl tolerance.     

Messenger RNA induction in cellular salt tolerance of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)

A salt tolerant alfalfaMedicago sativa L. cell line (HG2-N1) has been selected for growth in 171 mM NaCl. The salt tolerance characteristic is stable and is retained after growth in absence of salt selection for two months.In vitro translation was used to compare mRNA composition from the salt tolerant HG2-N1 and parent salt sensitive HG2 cell lines grown in the presence and absence of 171 mM NaCl. The results suggest that the mRNA composition differs between HG2-N1 and HG2 in a number of RNA species. The salt tolerant HG2-N1 shows both increases and decreases in specific polypeptides as compared to HG2. Many of the enhanced polypeptide bands from mRNA in the salt tolerant HG2-N1 variant appear to be constitutively expressed, since they can be detected from HG2-N1 cells grown in presence and absence of NaCl, but the expression of a few bands may depend on the presence of added NaCl. Most enhanced polypeptides, which are detected from mRNA in the salt tolerant variant HG2-N1 (grown on NaCl) are different from polypeptide bands enhanced in the salt sensitive HG2 line as a result of 24 hour salt stress. Similar results were obtained from two dimensional analysis ofin vivo labeled polypeptides. At least one isolated cDNA clone shows selective expression of mRNA in salt tolerant cells grown in NaCl. These results indicate that adaptive mechanisms for salt tolerance may differ in some aspects from acute stress mechanisms.     

Antioxidant Response to NaCl Stress in a Control and an NaCl-Tolerant Cotton Cell Line Grown in the Presence of Paraquat,Buthionine Sulfoximine,and Exogenous Glutathione

A cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) control and NaCl-tolerant cell line (cv Coker 312) were grown on media with or without NaCl in the presence or absence of paraquat, buthionine sulfoximine, and oxidized glutathione. On medium with 150 mM NaCl the NaCl-tolerant cell line exhibited no reduction in growth, whereas a 96% reduction was observed in the control line. The NaCl-tolerant cell line that was grown on 150 mM NaCl exhibited significantly greater catalase (341%), peroxidase (319%), glutathione reductase (287%), ascorbate peroxidase (450%), [gamma]-glutamylcysteine synthetase (224%), and glutathione S-transferase (500%) activities than the intolerant control. The NaCl-tolerant cell line had a significantly lower dehydroascorbic acid/ascorbic acid ratio. Paraquat reduced growth by 20 and 53.7%, respectively, in the NaCl-tolerant and control cell line. The NaCl-tolerant cell line also showed a slight tolerance to buthionine sulfoximine. In the buthionine sulfoximine experiments reduced glutathione restored growth in both cell lines, whereas oxidized glutathione restored growth only in the NaCl-tolerant cell line. These data indicate that the NaCl-tolerant cell line exhibited a cross-tolerance to a variety of stress variables and had a more active ascorbate-glutathione cycle.     

Expression of growth-regulated genes in normal and SV40 transformed hamster fibroblasts.

Transformation by the oncogenic virus SV40 has been shown to alter the expression of cellular genes at the level of RNA abundance. Many of these genes have yet to be identified. We have determined, by Northern blot analysis, the abundance levels of several growth-regulated genes in SV40-transformed cell lines to determine if their expression is altered and correlates with the ability of SV40 transformed cells to grow in low serum containing media. The mRNA abundance levels of the G1-specific genes 2A9/calcyclin, 2F1/translocase, and 4F1/vimentin were determined in the parental hamster fibroblast cell line, tk-ts13, and in two SV40 transformants, HR5 and HR8 cells, grown in medium containing 10% calf serum (normal medium) and in HR5 and HR8 cells adapted to passage in medium containing low serum. A spontaneous transformant of the parental line capable of growth in low serum in the absence of SV40 transformation (tk-ts13/1%), was also included in these studies. The low serum adapted SV40-transformed cells and the spontaneous tk-ts13 transformed cells grew more vigorously than their nonadapted counterparts in medium containing low serum. The low serum adapted cells also grew to higher saturation densities in low serum and to densities comparable to those in high serum, whereas the nonadapted cells grew to low saturation densities in low serum, but not as low as the untransformed parental.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Short-term in vitro storage of t Miscanthus x ogiformis Honda 'Giganteus' as affected by medium composition,temperature, and photon flux density

Miscanthus x ogiformis Honda 'Giganteus' shoot cultures were stored in vitro on proliferation or rooting medium for up to 27 weeks at temperatures of 8, 12, 16, or 20 °C and photosynthetic photon flux densities of 5, 10, or 20 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹. Plants survived storage much better on rooting medium than on proliferation medium. Plants stored on rooting medium for 1 week survived well when survival was assessed immediately after storage or after 14 days of acclimatization, but had the lowest survival 28 days after transplantation. With increasing storage period on rooting medium increasing survival was found 28 days after transplantation. This was probably a result of the development of rhizomes and/or roots during storage. Best survival was observed at 20 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ and a temperature of 8-16 °C. Increasing the temperature to 25 °C during the last week of storage improved survival considerably. Root formation was slow at 8 °C, but after 27 weeks of storage the rooting percentage was the same at all storage temperatures. An increasing number of shoots per plant 28 days after transplantation was found with increasing PPFD during storage.Miscanthus shoot cultures can be stored in vitro for at least 27 weeks with limited losses when stored on rooting medium at 20 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹, a temperature of 16 °C, and given a 1-week end-of-storage treatment of 25 °C. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Changes in the hydrophobic-hydrophilic cell surface character of Halomonas elongata in response to NaCl.

Phase-partitioning studies of the euryhaline bacterium Halomonas elongata demonstrated that the hydrophobic-hydrophilic nature of the cell surface changed as the bacterium grew in different NaCl concentrations. Mid-log-phase cells grown in a high (3.4 M) NaCl concentration were more hydrophilic than were cells grown in a low (0.05 M) NaCl concentration. Mid-log-phase cells from defined medium containing 3.4 M NaCl normally produced a hydrophobicity reading of only 14 (hexadecane hydrophobicity = 100), while corresponding cells from defined medium containing 0.05M NaCl gave a hydrophobicity reading of 90. Compared with cells grown in low salt concentrations, cells grown in high salt concentrations were more hydrophilic at all stages of growth. Rapid suspension of log-phase cells grown in 1.37 M NaCl into a 0.05 or 3.4 M NaCl solution produced no detectable rapid changes in surface hydrophobicity. These data suggest that as H. elongata adapts to different NaCl concentrations, it alters the affinity of its outermost cell surface to water.     

In vitro characterization of salt stress effects and the selection of salt tolerant plants in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Summary The response of plant cells to salt stress was studied on embryo derived calli of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in order to identify cellular phenotypes associated with the stress. The feasability of selecting salt tolerant callus and its subsequent regeneration to plants was also studied. Callus was grown on agar-solidified media containing 0%, 1% and 2% (w/v) NaCl for 24 days. Parameters such as fresh weight, dry weight, soluble protein and proline content were measured. The callus growth decreased markedly with increasing NaCl concentration in the medium. The proline content was enhanced several fold in salt stressed calli. A prolonged exposure of callus to the salt environment led to discolouration and arrested growth in the majority of the calli and only a small number of callus cells maintained healthy and stable growth. These variants were subcultured every three weeks for a period of four months onto medium containing 1% NaCl to identify tolerant lines. At the end of the third cell passage, the tolerant calli were transferred to regeneration medium to regenerate plants. The regeneration frequency in the salt-selected lines was enhanced when compared to unselected lines.     

Selective overproduction of 5-enol-pyruvylshikimic acid 3-phosphate synthase in a plant cell culture which tolerates high doses of the herbicide glyphosate

Cultured cells of the higher plant Corydalis sempervirens Pers. which had been adapted to growing in the presence of 5 mM glyphosate (N-[phosphonomethyl]-glycine), a herbicide and a potent specific inhibitor of the shikimate pathway enzyme 5-enol-pyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase, had a nearly 40-fold increased level of the extractable activity of EPSP synthase. Activities of five other shikimate pathway enzymes were, however, similar in the adapted and nonadapted cells, and the concentrations of the free aromatic amino acids in the two cell lines were also similar. EPSP synthases purified from glyphosate-adapted, as well as nonadapted cells, had identical physical, kinetic, and immunological properties, which indicated that the glyphosate-sensitive enzyme was overproduced in the adapted culture. Overproduction of EPSP synthase in the adapted culture was unequivocally established by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, as well as by one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-gradient gel electrophoresis and quantitation of EPSP protein by immunoassay after transfer to nitrocellulose membranes. While about 0.06% of the total soluble protein from nonadapted cells was EPSP synthase protein, the proportion was 2.6% in the adapted cells. In vivo pulse-labeling experiments with [35S]methionine established that the adapted cells have an increased rate of EPSP synthase protein synthesis.     

Acid adaptation sensitizes Salmonella typhimurium to hypochlorous acid.

Acid adaptation of Salmonella typhimurium at a pH of 5.0 to 5.8 for one to two cell doublings resulted in marked sensitization of the pathogen to halogen-based sanitizers including chlorine (hypochlorous acid) and iodine. Acid-adapted S. typhimurium was more resistant to an anionic acid sanitizer than was its nonadapted counterpart. A nonselective plating medium of tryptose phosphate agar plus 1% pyruvate was used throughout the study to help recover chemically stressed cells. Mechanisms of HOCl-mediated inactivation of acid-adapted and nonadapted salmonellae were investigated. Hypochlorous acid oxidized a higher percentage of cell surface sulfhydryl groups in acid-adapted cells than in nonadapted cells, and sulfhydryl oxidation was correlated with cell inactivation. HOCl caused severe metabolic disruptions in acid-adapted and nonadapted S. typhimurium, such as respiratory loss and inability to restore the adenylate energy charge from a nutrient-starved state. Sensitization of S. typhimurium to hypochlorous acid by acid adaptation also involved increased permeability of the cell surface because nonadapted cells treated with EDTA became sensitized. The results of this study establish that acid-adapted S. typhimurium cells are highly sensitized to HOCl oxidation and that inactivation by HOCl involves changes in membrane permeability, inability to maintain or restore energy charge, and probably oxidation of essential cellular components. This study provides a basis for improved practical technologies to inactivate Salmonella and implies that acid pretreatment of food plant environments may increase the efficacy of halogen sanitizers.     

CONSTANS-LIKE 7过量表达降低白光和蓝光下拟南芥幼苗花青素及叶绿素的含量

以拟南芥野生型(WT)、突变体col7、以及COL7过量表达转基因株系COL7-OX-10和COL7-OX-11为实验材料,观察比较了白光、红光以及蓝光下,生长在MS培养基上的幼苗表型,以及蓝光下生长在0、100 mmol/LNaCl MS培养基上的幼苗表型。结果发现,过量表达株系幼苗在白光和蓝光下出现黄化现象,并且NaCl处理导致蓝光下幼苗黄化现象更加严重。检测幼苗的花青素及叶绿素的含量,发现白光和蓝光下,过量表达株系幼苗中花青素和叶绿素的含量明显降低,其中蓝光下生长在含100 mmol/L NaCl的MS培养基上幼苗的花青素和叶绿素含量下降尤为明显,表明COL7可能参与调控花青素和叶绿素的合成,并依赖于蓝光。     

Characterization and regeneration of salt- and water-stress mutants from protoplast culture of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia (Viviani)

Summary Protoplast-derived colonies of haploid N. plumbaginifolia leaves were used to select for resistance to NaCl, KCl and polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG). Salt-and PEG-tolerant cell lines were isolated on the basis of growth in a culture medium containing inhibitory concentrations of either NaCl or KCl (200 mM) or PEG (25%). The frequency of resistant lines ranged from 10^-5 to 10^-6. One resistant line from each treatment was regenerated into plants. All resistant lines produced 10–25 times more proline than the wild type when grown on a non-selective medium. Similar values were also observed in the leaves of resistant progeny plants. In each mutant line, salt or PEG resistance was transmitted as a single dominant nuclear gene as shown by segregation ratios in progenies of crosses between resistant and wild-type plants. The latter observation demonstrates clearly the existence of a genetic basis for increased salt tolerance.     

Alkaline and acid phosphatases from the extensively halotolerant bacteriumHalomonas elongata

Alkaline and acid phosphatases (EC 3.1.3.1 and EC 3.1.3.2, respectively) ofHalomonas elongata were cytochemically localized on the cell envelope. These enzymes were then isolated and partially purified by sonication, ammonium sulfate precipitation, and column chromatography from cells grown in alanine defined medium at 0.05, 1.37, and 3.4M NaCl. Enzyme assays were conducted at pH 5.0 and 9.0 with varying concentrations of NaCl, KCl, and LiCl in the assay buffer. Results showed higher acid phosphatase activity compared with that of alkaline phosphatase; and all enzyme activities were optimal at NaCl concentrations similar to the medium NaCl concentrations for the cells grown at 1.37 and 3.4M. However, minimum enzyme activities were observed for cells grown at the low salt concentration (0.05M). Although samples showed strong activities at some KCl concentrations, generally the enzyme activities decreased significantly when KCl or LiCl was substituted for NaCl. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by histochemical staining for the phosphatases showed only one band for both enzymes for each cell sample grown at the different NaCl concentrations.     

Phytic Acid and Sodium Chloride Show Marked Synergistic Bactericidal Effects against Nonadapted and Acid-Adapted Escherichia coli O157:H7 Strains

The synergistic antimicrobial effects of phytic acid (PA), a natural extract from rice bran, plus sodium chloride against Escherichia coli O157:H7 were examined. Exposure to NaCl alone at concentrations up to 36% (wt/wt) for 5 min did not reduce bacterial populations. The bactericidal effects of PA alone were much greater than those of other organic acids (acetic, citric, lactic, and malic acids) under the same experimental conditions (P < 0.05). Combining PA and NaCl under conditions that yielded negligible effects when each was used alone led to marked synergistic effects. For example, whereas 0.4% PA or 3 or 4% NaCl alone had little or no effect on cell viability, combining the two completely inactivated both nonadapted and acid-adapted cells, reducing their numbers to unrecoverable levels (>7-log CFU/ml reduction). Flow cytometry confirmed that PA disrupted the cell membrane to a greater extent than did other organic acids, although the cells remained viable. The combination of PA and NaCl induced complete disintegration of the cell membrane. By comparison, none of the other organic acids acted synergistically with NaCl, and neither did NaCl-HCl solutions at the same pH values as the test solutions of PA plus NaCl. These results suggest that PA has great potential as an effective bacterial membrane-permeabilizing agent, and we show that the combination is a promising alternative to conventional chemical disinfectants. These findings provide new insight into the utility of natural compounds as novel antimicrobial agents and increase our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the antibacterial activity of PA.     

Growth characteristics and ion contents of non-selected and salt-selected callus lines of highbush blueberry (Vacdnium corymbosum) cultivars Blue Crop and Denise Blue

Non-selected and sodium chloride selected callus lines of Vacdnium corymbosum L.cv Blue Crop and cv. Denise Blue were grown on media supplemented with 0–100 mM NaCl. For both cultivars, fresh weight and dry weight yields were greater in selected lines on all levels of NaCl. Selected lines of Blue Crop displayed better growth than selected lines of Denise Blue at most concentrations of NaCl. Internal Na⁺ and Cl^– concentrations in selected and non-selected lines of both cultivars increased as external concentration was raised. However, selected lines of Blue Crop and Denise Blue accumulated more Na⁺ and Cl^– than non-selected lines. Selected lines of both cultivars maintained higher levels of K⁺ than non-selected lines on all external NaCl levels. Selected lines of Blue Crop had higher levels of Na⁺ and Cl^– than that of Denise Blue. The results suggest Na⁺ and Cl^– accumulation could be a mechanism allowing better growth in selected lines at moderate salinity levels (50–75 mM NaCl).