© 1988 Heron Publishing—Victoria, Canada
The influence of glutamine on growth and viability of cell suspension cultures of Douglas-fir after exposure to polyethylene
glycol
Thomas Leustek (1, 2) and Edward G. Kirby (1)
1. Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07102, USA / 2. Roche Institute of Molecular Biology, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA / Received February 26, 1988
Summary
The response of cell cultures of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) to osmotic stress was studied by measuring cell growth and viability after exposure to polyethylene glycol
(PEG) (Mr 6000–8000). Growth of cells inoculated in a medium containing 10% PEG was slightly inhibited, whereas growth in a medium
containing 15% PEG was severely inhibited. Cells grown for 6 days in nutrient medium and then subcultured in a medium containing
15% PEG to induce water stress showed high viabilities, whereas cells grown for longer than 6 days before exposure to PEG
showed decreased viabilities after subculture. Cells grown in medium containing 30 mM glutamine were significantly more resistant
to PEG-induced water stress, as measured by viability, than cells grown in medium without glutamine.
