Response to NaCl of Grapevines Regenerated from Multiple-Shoot Cultures Exhibiting Mild Salt Tolerance in vitro

¹ CSIRO Division of Horticultural Research, G. P. O. Box 350, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
² CSIRO Division of Horticultural Research, Merbein, Vic. 3505, Australia.

The response to NaCl of glasshouse-grown plants of Vitis vinifera cv. Cabernet Sauvignon and V. champini cv. Ramsey is described. The grapevines had been regenerated from in vitro multiple-shoot cultures that had shown a partial growth recovery, after an initial inhibition, when exposed to media containing between 50 and 100 mM NaCl for a minimum period of nine months. The plants were compared with others regenerated from cultures that had received no NaCl. Response in the glasshouse, in terms of both growth and chloride uptake, was virtually the same, irrespective of whether plants had received NaCl during in vitro culture. It is concluded that the apparent tolerance to elevated chloride levels in vitro was a temporary physiological adaptation to culture conditions, which did not persist in whole plants regenerated from culture.

Key words: glasshouse, in vitro, salt tolerance, Vitis champini, Vitis vinifera

Submitted on September 16, 1987