Plant cells selected for resistance to phosphate starvation show enhanced P use efficiency

In many organisms, phosphate starvation induces multigene systems that act to increase the availability and uptake of exogenous phosphates. Tissue-cultured tomato cells were plated onto solid media containing starvation levels of phosphate. While most cells died, we identified isolated clumps of callus capable of near-normal rates of growth. Starvation-resistant cells were used to start suspension cultures that were kept under phosphate starvation conditions. A selected cell line showed constitutively enhanced secretion of acid phosphatase and greatly increased rates of phosphate uptake. These pleiotropic effects suggest modification of a regulatory apparatus that controls coordinated changes in the expression of a multigene system. The somaclonal variant cell line grew normally under phosphate-sufficient conditions, but did significantly better than unselected cells under phosphate-limited conditions. In vitro selection may be a useful system for developing phosphate ultraefficient crop plants.