In vitro growth and leaf composition of grapevine cultivars as affected bysodium chloride

In vitro proliferated shoot culture of six grape genotypes (Vitis vinifera L.) were screened for tolerance to NaCl (0 to 200 mM). The cv. Perlette was found to tolerate 175 mM NaCl followed by cvs. Pusa Seedless and Beauty Se edless 150 mM NaCl. Na, K, Cl, Ca and Mg content increased up to 100 mM NaC l in most of the genotypes. Total sugar and proline content of stem tissue gradually increased under NaCl stress while leaf chlorophyll a+b content de clined. Studies suggest that the in vitro screening procedure can be used f or ranking the grape genotypes for salinity tolerance.