Growth of bean cells in suspension culture in the presence of NaCl and protein-stabilizing factors

Sensitivity of Phaseolus vulgaris to NaCl was much lower in cell suspension than in whole plant cultures. At levels of −4 bars, growth (dry weight accumulation) was decreased by about 40% during the first 9 days. Growth of whole plants was decreased 70% by −2 bars NaCl. There was a small but not statistically significant stimulation of cell culture growth at levels of NaCl between −0.5 and −1.0 bars. (These values are in addition to the −3.5 bars of the standard culture solution itself.)Growth of cells in the control medium stopped at the end of 10 days but continued in the salinized cultures, reaching the level of the controls at about day 13. After six passages in saline medium, there was no evidence of increased tolerance to salt. Sensitivity increased, although subsequent growth in nonsaline medium was not affected.This system was used for assaying the effect of various antioxidants, vitamins, hormones, and amino acids on salt damage at the cellular level. At the concentrations assayed, these material...