Cell cultures vs. whole plants for measuring phytotoxicity III. Correlations between phytotoxicities in cell suspension cultures, calli and seedlings

The effects of a range of compounds were assessed using cellsuspension cultures of three species. The results were comparedwith previous data on seedlings and calli of the same species.The effects on seedlings of Lycopersicon esculentum, Solanumnigrum and Cirsium arvense were compared with those on cellcultures of the same species. There was a significant correlationbetween the suspension cultures and the calli from which theywere derived. When the results for seedlings were compared withthose for suspension cultures, the major deviations from positivecorrelations were compounds inhibiting the cells more than theydid the whole plants. Thus cell suspension cultures can be usedto assess possible phytotoxicity as well as to detect potentialtoxicity of compounds not penetrating into or being translocatedin whole plants. They are most amenable for use in rapid toxicitytests and metabolic studies. (Received February 3, 1977; )