Protection of in-vitro grown Arabidopsis seedlings against abiotic stresses

Severe abiotic stresses may cause permanent damage leading to death. In Arabidopsis seedlings germinating in vitro, we examined whether stress-related damage could be reduced by addition of protective low-molecular-weight compounds (trehalose and putrescine), addition of a specific signal molecule (acetylsalicylic acid), culture in the dark before and/or after the stress, and hardening mild-stress pretreatments. All four tested protective procedures increased survival after exposure to drought, warm air, warm water or salinity, often from ca. 15% in the control to ca. 85% in the treated seedlings. These protective measures may be usable to reduce the negative effects of abiotic stresses related to tissue culture.