Zilkah, S., Department of Plant Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
Gressel, J., Department of Plant Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

The effects of a range of compounds were assessed using cell suspension cultures of three species. The results were compared with previous data on seedlings and calli of the same species. The effects on seedlings of Lycopersicon esculentum, Solanum nigrum and Cirsium arvense were compared with those on cell cultures of the same species. There was a significant correlation between the suspension cultures and the calli from which they were derived. When the results for seedlings were compared with those for suspension cultures, the major deviations from positive correlations were compounds inhibiting the cells more than they did the whole plants. Thus cell suspension cultures can be used to assess possible phytotoxicity as well as to detect potential toxicity of compounds not penetrating into or being translocated in whole plants. They are most amenable for use in rapid toxicity tests and metabolic studies. © 1977 Oxford University Press.