The effects of ascorbic acid on salt induced alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) in <i>in vitro</i> culture

Abstract

Ascorbic acid as an antioxidant agent has already been used for increasing of stress tolerance. Callus was produced from stem segments of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) on MS medium supplemented with 2,4 dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, naphthalene acetic acid and kinetin (2 mg/l
each).Calli were then transferred to the same medium containing 0, 30, 60, 90, 120 mM NaCl and 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mM ascorbic acid. Addition of ascorbic acid to the medium improved seed germination and also increased the activity of acid phosphates, chlorophyll content, and dry
mass. The Na+ and K+ content of stem-leaf and root was relatively increased with some variations. The fresh weight of calli was also increased by ascorbic acid under salt stress condition