A Simple and Effective Bioassay Method Suitable to Comparative In Vitro Study of Tomato Salt Tolerance at Early Development Stages

Abstract

In vitro evaluation of tomato seeds and seedlings for salt tolerance has undoubted advantages (high productivity, as well as stability and reproducibility of the obtained experimental data due to the maintenance of constant controlled conditions) in comparison with open-field system and pot experiments. However, even high-quality seeds greatly differ in the uniformity of germination capacity and germination energy. Heterogeneous germination in the habit and developmental stage of plant material significantly distorts the obtaining of relevant experimental data suitable for correct interpretation. In our study, we propose a simple and effective bioassay method suitable to comparative in vitro study of tomato salt tolerance using shoot apex of seedlings at the early first-true-leaf stage. Shoot apexes cultured the on the root induction medium (RIM) supplemented with 0.2 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and NaCl at different concentrations (0–250 mM NaCl) revealed significant differences between two tomato genotypes (line YaLF and cv. Rekordsmen) at the organismal (measurements of CO2 gas exchange), organ (rhizogenesis frequency; number and length of de novo regenerated roots; root fresh (RFW) and dry (RDW) weights; shoot fresh (SFW) and dry (SDW) weights), tissue (the average cross-sectional area of epidermal and mesophylls cotyledonary cells) and cellular (ultrastructure of chloroplast and nuclear compartments) development levels. In addition, a quantitative comparison of proline and photosynthetic pigments contents under 75 and 150 mm NaCl treatments showed a different response between two tomato genotypes. The proposed methodological approach can be used for other plants with a high response to auxin-induced rhizogenesis in vitro, as well as for the comparative in vitro assessment of other abiotic stresses.

Endophytic Paenibacillus polymyxa LMG27872 inhibits Meloidogyne incognita parasitism, promoting tomato growth through a dose-dependent effect

“…Tissues were blotted dry and weighed using a digital balance (A&D Weighing BM-200 Ion Analytical Balance). The phenotypic effect of applying P. polymyxa LMG27872 on tomato seedlings was also evaluated with an in vitro assay according to Khaliluev et al (2022) with slight modifications. Seeds were surface-sterilized in NaCl and rinsed in water.…”

Experimental Botany: Anatomical and Morphological Approaches for Biotechnology and Nature Protection

“…For this reason, choosing the wrong variety can lead to significant yield losses. The physiological basis of salt tolerance is very complex, and diagnosed tolerance often differs at different stages of ontogenesis [13]. An evaluation of simple diagnostic techniques was carried out on one of the most popular plants of the Solanaceae family, the tomato.…”

“…Modern biotechnological approaches and genomic technologies for obtaining new valuable mutant, transgenic and modified forms require high-quality work and an understanding of the botanical aspects to obtain morphogenic calli and develop regeneration and cryopreservation protocols that can be used for cereal, fruit and ornamental plants (contribution 3,11,13). Structural botany and cytological analysis methods are strategically important bases for creating technology [15].…”

Characteristics of Root Cells during In Vitro Rhizogenesis under Action of NaCl in Two Tomato Genotypes Differing in Salt Tolerance

“…Then, the seeds were washed with autoclaved distilled water and placed in cultural vessels with Murashige and Skoog (MS) nutrient medium [18] supplemented with 3% sucrose and 0.7% agar (pH = 5.7-5.8) under aseptic conditions. Further in vitro cultivation was carried out, and donor seedlings were obtained according to the method described [19]. In each variant of the experiment, 10 seedlings were used, with 3 replicates (Supplementary Materials Figure S1).…”