In vitro selection for tolerance to soil chloride salinization in perennial grasses

Plant cultivation under soil salinity depends on the level and composition of salts in the root zone. Of sulphates, sulphate-chlorides, carbonates and chlorides exactly chlorides are the most toxic causing root growth violation. Accumulation of NaCl, MgCl 2 and CaCl 2 occurs in agroecosystems and also in urban soils if anti-icing agents are used. The article presents the results of Festuca rubra L. and Agrostis stolonifera L. in vitro selection for tolerance to the high NaCl levels. Phytotoxicity of NaCl, MgCl 2 and CaCl 2 was estimated basing on the seed germination and plant growth parameters. It was found out an enhanced sensitivity to the salinization in parental plants of these grasses if compared to another cultivated plants. Resistant cell lines were selected after two passages of 2100 calli of the bent grass and 750 calli of the fescue on modified MS medium with 1 or 2 % NaCl. For regeneration and rooting plants of the survived clones, the MS media with 1 or 2 % NaCl were used. To asses a tolerance level, the regenerants were planted into the soil containing 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 % NaCl. The obtained rooted regenerants (132 and 18 plants of the bent grass at 1 and 2 % NaCl, respectively, and 26 and 9 plants of fescue at 1 and 2 % NaCl, respectively) were tolerant. The possessed tolerance to NaCl and other salts were shown to be inherited. The developed method can be used to select in vitro the fodder and urban grass resistant to salinity.