Amino acids profiles were
investigated in tissues, cultured cells, i.e. callus or suspension cells, and their protoplasts of three mangrove species, Avicennia
alba, Bruguiera sexangula, and Sonneratia alba. Original tissues of cultured cells of
three mangrove species were cotyledons and hypocotyls, leaves, and cotyledons,
respectively. In protoplasts isolated from cultured cells, glutamine and
alanine were the major amino acids. Different contents of glycine, proline and
serine were observed among protoplasts of three mangrove species. Large
differences in the major amino acids were found among cultured cells and their
protoplasts while no difference was found between callus and suspension cells
independent of additional salt in culture medium. Protoplasts of original
tissues, young leaves and cotyledons, contained alanine and glutamine and/or
asparagine. In suspension cells of B. sexangula, total contents of amino
acids were low while their protoplasts showed similar value as of other
samples. Protoplasts of leaf and cotyledons of A. alba and cotyledons of A. lanata, A.
marina and S. alba were also investigated. The total contents
of amino acids and their profiles might be related to the recalcitrance for the
growth and salt tolerance or halophilic nature of cells and basal media used
for the maintenance of cell cultures or protoplast cultures of the mangrove
species. This is the first report on callus induction from hypocotyls of A.
alba.