ABSTRACT
Short-term effect of different concentrations of NaCl on callus cultures of Jatropha curcas was investigated at different concentration of NaCl (0, 20, 40, 60, 80,100 mM). Results showed a decrease in fresh weight of callus cultures when subjected to increasing concentration of salt in the medium. Callus morphology correspondingly changed from off-white to blackish-brown above 40mM to acutely necrotic stage at 100 mM NaCl. The callus cultures after recurrent selection (at 20mM for 20 days) were transferred to salt free optimized callus regeneration medium expressed 90.0% recovery. The callus placed in 40mM, 60mM concentration of NaCl exhibited moderate tolerance and showed 64.0% and 56.0% recovery. In 80mM concentration, callus showed moderate susceptibility and showed 6.9% recovery of callus.
