EFFECT OF SALINITY ON SOME MORPHOPHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERS OF SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS-REGENERATED PLANTS OF PINEAPPLE [Ananas comosus (L.) MERR. CV. SMOOTH CAYENNE]

Abstract

Pineapple in Côte d'Ivoire is going through problems of various origins. Reviving this state imperatively requires both to clean up the plant material and to select varieties which easily adapt to the current pedoclimatic conditions of growing areas. This work assesses the impact of salinity on regenerated pineapple plants by somatic embryogenesis. The tests were carried out in polyethylene bags filled with sea sand, under semi-controlled conditions. Regenerated pineapple plants were watered with six saline solutions (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 14 g/L). Control plants were watered with water. The results revealed that salt stress reduces the studied morphophysiological parameters (number of leaves and roots, length of leaves and roots, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll content, the carotenoids content and the relative water content). Pineapple tolerates low salt levels (2 and 4 g/L). However, important disturbances were observed in the metabolism of stressed plants with high levels of NaCl (6 and 10 g/L). As an adaptation strategy to maintain its metabolism from this stress, pineapple responded by accumulating proline. The highest saline content (14 g/L) was found to be lethal for pineapple plants.