Responses of Wild Species of Potato to Salt Stress under In vitro Culture

Salinity is one of the major abiotic factors which restrict plant growth, development and productivity. In this study the morphological and physiological effects of different concentrations of NaCl of three wild species of potato with different sensivity to salt including Solanum acaule (tolerant), Solanum stoloniferum (semi-sensetive) and Solanum bulbosum (sensetive) were investigated. Stem explants with one single nod were transsfered to MS medium with different concentrations of NaCl (0, 40, 80 and 120 mM). After 5 weeks some of the physiological and morphological changes induced by NaCl were studied. Salinity reduced shoot height, chlorophyll content (a, b and total), carotenoids and ascorbates and increased proline, lipid peroxidation and ion leakage in S.stoloniferum and S.bulbosum. On the other hand salinity had no adverse effects on shoot height, chlorophyll content, MDA, ascorbates and ion leakage but increased chlorophyll content(a, b and total)), carotenoids and proline in S. acaule. In S. acule only at high salinity level (120mM) the level of aldehydes was increased. Based on these results, lipid peroxidation and ion leakage parameters can be used as screening criteria in wild species of potato.