Thellungiella halophila suspension-cultured cells were used to establish a 'cell culture/salt stress' system, and electronic transmission microscope was used to examine ultrastructural changes of Thellungiella halophila cells. Organelles remained normal structures in untreated cells, while the plasma membrane began to detach from the cell wall and the cytoplasm appeared electron-opaque when cells were stressed under 300 mM NaCl for 6 hours. The plasma membrane retracted apparently from the cell wall after salt treatment for 12 hours. The number of mitochondria increased quickly and mitochondria were frequently crescent with illegible cristae at this time. Golgi body lost its normal morphology and became loose with small secretion vesicles budding from the trans end. The researchers also found the presence of autophagic vacuoles in salt stressed cells. These results indicate that Thellungiella halophila suspension-cultured cells can tolerate high salinity stress (300 mM NaCl) for a short time, while severe salt stress (300 mM NaCl for 12 h) leads to the impairment of cell with apparent ultrastructural changes. The researchers suggest that autophagy may play an important role in Thellungiella halophila cells in response to salt stress.

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