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

The extent that green and white calli reflect the phytotoxicities of various compounds on seedlings was measured. Green calli, which were found to photosynthetically fix 14CO2 but which were not autotrophic, better mirrored the effects of the same compounds tested on seedlings for two reasons. (a) Inhibitors of photosynthesis inhibited green calli more strongly than white calli; (b) compounds which were inactive in foliar sprays on seedlings but are known to be active through the soil more strongly inhibited white calli than green calli. Thus it is suggested that green cell cultures have potential use in studies of mode of action and for preliminary phytotoxicity screening. © 1978.