Potassium and calcium nitrate ameliorates the adverse effect of Nacl on in vitro induced tomato (lycopersicon esculentum mill.)

An in vitro tissue culture experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of supplementary potassium and calcium nitrate applied to basal media on morphogenesis of saline stressed tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. Cv. Omdurman). Shoot tip explants were cultured on MS media salinized with NaCl and supplemented with KNO3 and Ca (NO3)2. Treatments consist of four NaCl concentrations (0.0, 50, 75 and 100 mM) in combination with either KNO3 ( 0.0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mM) or Ca (NO3)2 (0.0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mM). Salinity significantly reduced the root growth, shoot growth and whole plant growth. Root growth was more reduced by the presence of NaCl in growth media than shoot growth. Application of supplemental calcium nitrate (20 mM) and potassium nitrate (15 mM) resulted in mitigation of the harmful effect of NaCl on tomato growth. However Ca (NO3)2 at 20 mM has negative effect on tomato shoot tip rooting %. In non salinized media, the best root and shoot growth was observed at 10 mM Ca (NO3)2. These findings suggest that the additions of potassium and calcium nitrate can ameliorate the negative effect of salinity on the growth of tomato.