Salinity effects on plant tissue culture of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Salinity effects on seed germination and growth of Phaseolus vulgaris L. under in vitro conditions was determined. Mature embryos of five bean cultivars, Akman 98, Goynuk 98, Karacasehir 90, Sehirali 90 and Yunus 90, from Turkey, were exposed on MS medium with different concentrations of NaCl (0.0, 0.6, 1.0 % w/v). Rate of germination among each cultivar was significant and indicated that plant growth of some cultivars was strongly reduced by salinity. While Akman 98 cultivar showed high resistance to salinity (germination rate was 47 %), Goynuk 98 was selected as the most salt-sensitive cultivar (germination rate was 7 %) among used cultivars on MS medium containing 1 % NaCl. These two cultivars were used to determine effects of salinity on their total soluble proteins and peroxidase activity. It was shown that total soluble protein contents of Akman 98 and Goynuk 98 were reduced 63 %, 22 %, respectively. Different profiles of peroxidase activity were also observed among two cultivars and in comparison with controls.