Establishment of a cell suspension culture of the halophyte Cakile maritima

Cakile maritima is a member of the Brassicaceae family also known as sea rocket. It is an annual succulent halophyte frequent in coastal dune vegetation in Mediterranean regions and Atlantic coasts from North Africa to the north of Europe. This halophyte presents a complex survival strategy at high salinity and its seeds contain up to 40% of an oil which could be suitable for biofuel production and other industrial applications. However, data concerning the cellular mechanisms allowing this plant to resist salinity are still lacking. Cell suspension cultures offer an in vitro system convenient for cell biology studies and biotechnological methods are still not developed for this putative crop. The present paper reports initiation of C. maritima cell suspension cultures from callus obtained from aerial parts of seedlings. The establishment of a suspension culture which preserves its salt resistance provides an opportunity to gain insights into C. maritima biology