Reduction of 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride by the KCN-insensitive,salicylhydroxamic acid-sensitive alternative respiratory pathway of mitochondria from cultured grapevine cells

The reduction of 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) by grapevine cells cultured in suspension was studied in order to assess the reliability of using TTC reduction as a measure of cell viability. Similar to the reduction observed in animals cells, TTC can be reduced in grapevine cells by the cytochrome respiratory path of the mitochondria, although it is mostly reduced (about 72 %) by the alternative respiratory path sensitive to salicylhydroxamic acid. Engagement of the alternative path in TTC reduction was calculated through the V_alt plot, and was established to be 89 %.Abbreviations SHAM salicylhydroxamic acid - TTC 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride