This report describes in vitro shoot induction and plant regeneration from mature nodal explants of Vitex trifolia L. on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium fortified with benzylaminopurine (BAP), kinetin (KN), thidiazuron (TDZ), adenine (ADE), and 2-isopentenyladenine (2-iP) (0.25 - 10.0 μM). Multiple shoots differentiated directly without callus mediation within 3 weeks when explants were cultured on medium supplemented with cytokinins. The maximum number of shoots (9 shoots per explant) was developed on a medium supplemented with 5.0 μM BAP. Shoot cultures was established repeatedly subculturing the original nodal explant on the same medium. Rooting of shoots was achieved on half strength MS medium supplemented with 0.5 μM naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Rooted plantlets transferred to pots containing autoclaved soil and vermiculite mixture (1:1) showed 90 % survival when transferred to outdoor.

A protocol is established for regeneration of the economically important cut flower plant, Gypsophila paniculata L., using shoot tips explants. Multiple shoots were obtained on Murashige and Skoog medium fortified with 0.5 mg dm^-3 each of α-naphthaleneacetic acid and 6-benzyladenine. Addition of 10 g dm^-3 agar promoted shoot proliferation and reduced the degree of shoot vitrification. Transfer to 3 mg dm^-3 indole^-3-butyric acid containing medium produced optimum root initiation and development. The produced plants as well as intact plants were subjected to the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Using 9 primers, the total number of amplification products generated by polymerase chain reaction was 142 bands (15.7 bands per primer), of which 7.74 % showed polymorphism. The analysis of bands recorded, showed 92.25 % similarity. The results indicated that very low variation at the DNA level occurred during in vitro culture of Gypsophila.

Changes in plant growth, photosynthetic gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and stem diameter of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] plants under drought stress were studied. Total plant dry mass was reduced by 30 % compared to well-watered control plants. Leaf water potential was slightly decreased by water stress. Water stress induced daytime shrinkage and reduced night-time expansion of stem. Photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were significantly declined by water stress, while the intercellular CO₂ concentration was changed only slightly at the initiation of stress treatment. The maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem 2 and apparent photosynthetic electron transport rate were not changed by water stress.

An efficient regeneration system for Phaseolus vulgaris was developed from mature seeds germinated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with thidiazuron or N⁶-benzylaminopurine (BA) for 6 d. Using cotyledonary nodes, multiple buds were induced on the MS medium supplemented with 5.0 mg dm^-3 BA with the induction frequency 71.9 % after 4-week culture. The buds were then transferred onto shoot formation medium containing 1.0 mg dm^-3 BA, 0.1 mg dm^-3 gibberellic acid and 2.0 mg dm^-3 silver nitrate. The addition of AgNO₃ enhanced the frequency of the shoot formation from 61.3 to 87.6 %. Root induction medium was half-strength MS medium with 0.75 mg dm^-3 indolebutyric acid and 0.02 mg dm^-3 BA. The average root frequency was 84.3 %. The regenerated plantlets with healthy roots grew successfully when transferred to soil. Using this system we obtained over 10 regenerated plantlets from one explant.

Azolla caroliniana was exposed to 5 °C in darkness for 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7 d and then recovered for 7 d. Plants previously chilled for 2 or 3 d exhibited higher growth rates when transferred to normal temperature than either the control plants or those previously chilled for 5 or 7 d. Increased plant growth may be related to increased contents of chlorophyll, sucrose, and reducing sugars, due to increased photosynthetic capacity. In another experiment Azolla plants were chilled at 5 °C for 7 d and then transferred for 0, 4, 8, 12, or 16 d recovery to the N-free Hoagland solution or Hoagland solution containing 5 mM KNO₃. In previously chilled plants, the growth rate was decreased. In the medium supplemented with nitrogen, the growth rate was greater than in the N-free medium in both chilled and nonchilled plants. In chilled plants the decrease in growth rate may be related to the disturbance of Anabaena azollae cells where the protecting envelope of the heterocysts was deorganized. During the recovery the rate of N₂-fixation increased in both chilled and nonchilled plants up to 12 d after which both rates were similar. However, during the first 4 d the rate of the nonchilled plants was approximately 4-fold that of the previously chilled plants. Nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase activities in control plants were higher than in those previously chilled for 7 d. Both activities increased in nonchilled and previously chilled plants up to 12 d then decreased. The total protein content increased up to 12 d in chilled and nonchilled plants after which it decreased. Under all treatments, the values were higher in nonchilled plants than in those previously chilled ones and were also higher in presence of N than in its absence. Thus the presence of N-source in the medium counteracts the effect of chilling injury particularly during prolonged recovery.

Hairy roots of Rhamnus fallax Boiss. were induced using Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain A4M70GUS. The culture established on Woody plant media (WPM) showed a typical hairy root phenotype: rapid growth, reduced apical dominance and root plagiotropism. Seven clones of R. fallax were selected on the basis of their differences in colour and the root branching. The growth of hairy root culture, measured through gain in fresh mass, was done under 16-h photoperiod or in the dark. An increase in anthraquinone (AQ) content was obtained in clones with yellow and less branched roots, like clone 1 [16.43 mg g^-1(d.m.)] and clone 7 [14.21 mg g^-1(d.m.)], compared with other analysed transformed and non-transformed tissue. This study presents the first report of successful transformation of any species from family Rhamnaceae by A. rhizogenes and analysis of AQ production in transformed tissue.

A reproducible protocol has been developed for high frequency plant regeneration from immature embryos of Argyrolobium roseum Jaub & Spach, an important medicinal legume. Green nodular calli were initiated from immature embryos excised from 10-d-old pods in 70 % of cultures within 3 weeks when grown on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.5 mg dm^-3 benzylaminopurine (BAP) + 0.25 mg dm^-3 indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Subsequent transfer of 5 mm² callus pieces to MS medium supplemented with BAP (0.5 mg dm^-3) alone or in combination with IAA (0.25 mg dm^-3) facilitated regeneration of multiple shoots. Organogenic calli bearing multiple shoots when transferred to MS medium supplemented with BAP (0.5 mg dm^-3) + IAA (0.25 mg dm^-3) supported rapid shoot elongation. Shoot propagules subcultured to Gamborg's medium (B5) with 0.5 mg dm^-3 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) rooted with 80 % frequency and developed into phenotypically normal plants. Plantlets were successfully acclimatized in a sterile mixture of sand and garden soil (1:1) under greenhouse and thereafter transferred to field beds.

Hairy root cultures of Hypericum perforatum were obtained following inoculation of aseptically germinated seedlings with A. rhizogenes strain A4M70GUS. Effect of sucrose on the growth and biomass production of hairy root cultures was investigated. Hairy root cultures spontaneously regenerated shoots buds from which a number of shoot culture clones was established. Transformed shoot cultures exhibited good shoot multiplication, elongation and rooting on a hormone-free woody plant medium. Plants regenerated from hairy roots were similar in appearance to the normal, nontransformed plants.

The induction of haploid plants by in vitro gynogenesis is a promising practice in onion breeding. In order to increase the frequency of embryo regeneration and haploid plant production in Valcatorce INTA, Cobriza INTA and Navidena INTA cultivars, putrescine and CCC were used, either as a component of the culture media or by spraying or injecting them to the umbels. Additionally, two concentration of gellam gum were tested. A higher number of gynogenic embryos was achieved by using 7 g dm^-3 gellam gum, and this number was not affected by the addition of putrescine to the media. CCC sprayed at the umbels significantly increased the gynogenic embryo rate, which was more than three times higher than the control. Cobriza INTA showed the highest induced embryo rate (4.76 %).

An analysis of the effect of metabolic inhibitors, sugars, and fusicoccin on the trans-plant electrical potential difference arising across one-week-old green or herbicide-treated Chenopodium rubrum L. plants was performed. The substances were applied either to the solution bathing the root or in the form of drops to the stem. The respiratory inhibitors (KCN and salicylhydroxamic acid), sulfhydryl agents (N-ethylmaleimide and p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonic acid) and proton ionophore (carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone) affected the electrical potential, the kinetics of the induced changes varying with different inhibitors and site of application. None of the applied sugars (sucrose, glucose or sorbitol), ATPase stimulator fusicoccin or inhibitor vanadate exerted any appreciable effect on the electrical potential. An effect of sucrose could be observed in the case of its application immediately following de-rooting, especially in the case of herbicide-treated plants. These results we explain by non-participation of the sucrose transporter or the proton ATPase in the generation of the electrical potential difference across intact plants (apoplast-apoplast configuration).

The purpose of this research was Eucalyptus saligna in vitro regeneration and transformation with P5CSF129A gene, which encodes Δ¹-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS), the key enzyme in proline biosynthesis. After selection of the most responsive genotype, shoot organogenesis was induced on leaf explants cultured on a callus induction medium (CI) followed by subculture on a shoot induction medium (SI). Shoots were subsequently cultured on an elongation medium (BE), then transferred to a rooting medium and finally transplanted to pots and acclimatized in a greenhouse. For genetic transformation, a binary vector carrying P5CSF129A and uidA genes, both under control of the 35SCaMV promoter, was used. Leaves were co-cultured with Agrobacterium tumefaciens in the dark on CI medium for 5 d. The explants were transferred to the selective callogenesis inducing medium (SCI) containing kanamycin and cefotaxime. Calli developed shoots that were cultured on an elongation medium for 14 d and finally multiplied. The presence of the transgene in the plant genome was demonstrated by PCR and confirmed by Southern blot analysis. Proline content in the leaves was four times higher in transformed than in untransformed plants while the proline content in the roots was similar in both types of plants.

A DNA-based, inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were used to monitor genetic stability in micropropagated plantlets of Nothapodytes foetida. A total of 146 clear and distinct bands were produced using 26 primers resulting in 3 212 fragments. Out of 146, 135 bands (92.4 %) were monomorphic and 11 bands (7.53 %) were polymorphic which ranged from 200 to 21 226 bp in size. The number of bands per each primer varied from 1 to 11 with an average of 5.6 bands per primer. The banding pattern for each primer was uniform and comparable to mother plant from which the cultures had been established. The dendrogram based on the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averaging (UPGMA) depicted about 97 % homology between the mother plant and micropropagated plants. An attempt was made to reintroduce the micropropagated plants in the natural habitat and over 500 plants were successfully established.

The present study reports an efficient protocol for indirect shoot organogenesis and plantlets regeneration of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. Leaf explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The highest callus induction rate (89.5 %) and shoot regeneration rate (92 %) were obtained when 2 mg dm^-3 BAP was combined with 0.5 mg dm^-3 IAA. Three major withanolides (withaferine A, 12-deoxywithastramonolide and withanolide A) were investigated in different plant organs from in vitro and greenhouse grown plants. Leaves contained higher contents of withanolides and phenolics than roots or stems, whereas roots contained the highest contents of flavonoids and polysacharides. In vitro grown plants contained greater contents of phenolics, flavonoids and polysaccharides while lower contents of withanolides than greenhouse grown plants.

This paper compares the changes in water content, chlorophyll a fluorescence and leaf ultrastructure during dehydration and rehydration in two desiccation tolerant plants Xerophyta viscosa and X. retinervis. Both species showed decreasing quantum efficiency of photosystem 2 (F_v/F_m) with decreasing water content. Extreme water loss observed after 25 d of dehydration resulted in considerable damage of leaf tissue ultrastructure. After rehydration, both species need several days to reconstitute their photosynthetic machinery.

Unfavourable environment brings many kinds of stresses to plants. To survive such stresses, efficient resistance is required for the plants. Multifunctional genes enable the cross-talk among the various abiotic stress resistance systems. This paper reviews the action mechanisms of multifunctional genes. These genes can be classified into three groups: genes encoding diverse proteins through mRNA splicing (e.g. AOX in rice); genes like BADH, P5CS and HAV that control drought, salinity, osmotic and heat stress resistance; and a gene family, for example AQP, controlling transport of many compounds including water and nutrients. These genes participate in signal sensing and transduction, transcriptional regulation and functional gene activation during stress resistance induction. Furthermore, it should be noted that, under abiotic stresses, the regulation cascades are mutually interdependent and there also exists a close correlation between those cascades and normal plant growth and development.

Embryogenic cell suspension cultures of Santalum album were transformed with Agrobacterium tumefaciens harboring pD35SHER plant expression vector having hepatitis B small surface antigen (HBsAg) with a C-terminal ER retention signal. The transformed colonies were selected on culture medium supplemented with kanamycin and subsequently the transgenic nature of these colonies was confirmed by PCR analysis. The expression of HBsAg was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis and Western blot analysis and the expression was quantified using monoclonal antibody-based ELISA. Cell suspension cultures were initiated from the colony with expression of 11.09 μg(HBsAg) g^-1(f.m.). To further increase the expression of HBsAg, transgenic S. album suspensions were cultured on media with various medium additives and cells growing in medium with 30 mM trehalose showed the expression of 19.95 μg(HBsAg) g^-1(f.m.).

Inhibitory effects of flavonoids on plant alternative respiration were investigated using isolated mitochondria of Vigna radiata seedlings. The antioxidant flavonoids quercetin and myricetin effectively inhibited alternative respiration. We suggest that radical scavenging activity is involved in the inhibitory mechanism.

Reproducible and high-frequency transgenic plant regeneration from callus and embryo axes of four different genotypes of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) was achieved after Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Three different strains of Agrobacterium (EHA105, AGL1 and LBA4404) harboring the binary vector pCAMBIA1301 containing β-glucuronidase (GUS) and hygromycin phosphotransferase (hpt) genes under the control of a CaMV35S promoter were used. The highest number of transgenic plants was obtained from cotyledonary node-derived calli of genotype Pusa-256. A highly efficient rooting was achieved on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with indole-3-butyric acid. The stable integration of the gene was confirmed by molecular analyses of the transformed plants. Inheritance of GUS and hpt gene was followed through two generations and they showed the expected 3:1 inheritance.

The o-acetylserine (thiol) lyase (OAS-TL) gene is part of the plant sulfate assimilation pathway. The synthesis of cysteine, the first product of the pathway containing organic sulfur, has been previously observed to be dependent on the availability of sulfur and activity of OAS-TL. In this study, the ability of Vicia sativa L. to alter its metabolism to compensate for deficiencies brought about by sulfur stress was utilized to elucidate the functionality of Voas-tl5 (GenBank Accession No. DQ456491), a gene cloned from Vicia sativa. The transcription levels of Voas-tl5 increased in response to sulfur deficiency, indicating that the gene was active in the cysteine biosynthetic pathway.

An efficient propagation system via somatic embryogenesis and shoot organogenesis and plant regeneration system for endangered species Primulina tabacum Hance was established. Thidiazuron (TDZ) was the key plant growth regulator for inducing somatic embryogenesis and kinetin (KIN) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) were the key cytokinins for inducing shoot organogenesis from leaf explants. TDZ combined with BAP or KIN in the induction Murashige and Skoog medium induced both somatic embryos and adventitious shoots. Leaf explants with abaxial site in contact with the medium induced less somatic embryos or adventitious shoots compared to inversely placed leaf explants and the optimum pH was 6.5-7.0. Secondary somatic embryos or adventitious shoot could be induced from primary somatic embryos using TDZ and BAP. Shoots developed adventitious roots on rooting medium containing 0.5 μM indole-3-butyric acid and 0.2 % activated carbon. Over 90 % of plantlets survived following acclimatization and transfer to potting mixture (sand:Vermiculite:limestone; 1:2:1).

Zephyr lily (Zephyranthes grandiflora), an important ornamental plant has been micropropagated in vitro after controlling microbial contamination by a pretreatment with 0.2 % Bavistin and 0.1 % Pantomycin for 4 h before final sterilization with 0.1 % mercuric chloride. In 67 % of the sterile cultures, 11 shoots on average were regenerated directly from basal half of bulb scales in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 3 % sucrose and 2 mg dm^-3 benzylaminopurine (BAP). Shoots emerged in bunches on a basal achlorophyllous bulbous part. Combination of 2 mg dm^-3 BAP with 1 mg dm^-3 gibberellic acid (GA₃) enhanced shoot growth. Stout roots (maximum of 5-6 per shoot) were developed in presence of 1 mg dm^-3 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Micro-bulbs showed potential of regeneration and could be used as secondary explants. The morphologically identical plants derived by in vitro propagation were genetically identical as shown by PCR based ISSR marker analysis of genomic DNA.

Various ecophysiological investigations on carnivorous plants in wet soils are presented. Radial oxygen loss from roots of Droseraceae to an anoxic medium was relatively low 0.02 - 0.07 μmol(O₂) m^{- 2} s^-1 in the apical zone, while values of about one order of magnitude greater were found in both Sarracenia rubra roots and Genlisea violacea traps. Aerobic respiration rates were in the range of 1.6 - 5.6 μmol kg^-1 (f.m.) s^-1 for apical root segments of seven carnivorous plant species and 0.4 - 1.1 μmol kg^-1 (f.m.) s^-1 for Genlisea traps. The rate of anaerobic fermentation in roots of two Drosera species was only 5 - 14 % of the aerobic respiration. Neither 0.2 mM NaN₃ nor 0.5 mM KCN influenced respiration rate of roots and traps. In all species, the proportion of cyanide-resistant respiration was high and amounted to 65 - 89 % of the total value. Mean rates of water exudation from excised roots of 12 species ranged between 0.4 - 336 mm 3 kg^-1 (f.m.) s^-1 with the highest values being found in the Droseraceae. Exudation from roots was insensitive to respiration inhibitors. No significant difference was found between exudation rates from roots growing in situ in anoxic soil and those kept in an aerated aquatic medium. Carnivorous plant roots appear to be physiologically very active and well adapted to endure permanent soil anoxia.

In the conversion of oleic acid to linoleic acid, δ¹²-fatty acid desaturase (δ¹²-FAD) is involved. Based on the conserved oligo amino acid residues of the FAD2 genes from other plants, a new full-length cDNA (DiFAD2) encoding a δ¹²-FAD was cloned from Davidia involucrata Baill. Sequence analysis indicated that the DiFAD2 gene had an open reading frame (ORF) of 1 149 bp, coding for 382 amino acids residues of 44.3 kDa, pI of the deduced protein was 8.8. The deduced amino acid sequence of the cloned DiFAD2 showed high identities to those genes of other plant δ¹²-FAD. RT-PCR showed that DiFAD2 was expressed in all tissues and expression was abundant in young stems. Expression of DiFAD2 is not enhanced by low temperature and the altered polyunsaturated fatty acid content in leaves treated with low temperature may be due to the post-transcriptional regulation of the DiFAD2 gene or the other FAD2 gene family regulation.

Tomato plants were treated for two weeks with different concentrations of Cr(III) or Cr(VI) compounds to compare their toxic effects. The concentration of total Cr in plant tissues increased linearly with its concentration in the growth medium and Cr accumulated largely in the roots, regardless of the form in which it was supplied to the plant. All measured plant growth parameters were negatively affected by Cr, but Cr(VI) showed much more pronounced toxic effects. Leaf net photosynthetic rate (P_N) was decreased by both Cr forms, and the decrease was also greater for Cr(VI). Cr(III) caused no significant effect on leaf stomatal conductance, whereas Cr(VI) reduced it. Cr(VI) also markedly reduced the variable to maximum chlorophyll a fluorescence ratio, measured in dark-adapted leaves.

Chlorophyll (Chl) degradation was found to be related to the endogenous gibberellin (GA) content in shoots during senescence in the perennial plant Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis (Franch.). Treatment with gibberellic acid (GA₃) significantly increased the content of endogenous GAs (GA₄ + GA₇), retarded the senescence of shoots, and the degradation of proteins and Chl. Chlorophyllase, Mg-dechelation and peroxidase activities increased more in control plants than in those treated with GA₃. GA₃ treatment also protected lipoxygenase activity, which decreased significantly in control plants.

Long-term culture establishment and efficient in vitro regeneration protocol for Sansevieria cylindrica Bojer ex Hook was developed using leaf derived callus and nodule culture. Profuse callus induction on leaf discs was achieved on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 10 µM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), while a high frequency of nodulation was induced on 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) containing media. Shoot regeneration ability from cultured tissues occurred at varying degrees on all media. Through callus culture a maximum of 17.6 ± 0.14 shoots per culture was formed on medium containing 5µM 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 2 µM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Among nodule cultures, the 2,4-D generated nodules were more proliferative and regenerative as compared to 2,4,5-T induced nodules and a maximum of 25 ± 0.16 shoots per culture was produced on a medium containing 5 µM BA plus 1 µM NAA. The regenerated shoots were successfully rooted on a semi-solid half strength MS medium containing 5 µM IBA with an average root number 3.5 ± 0.18 and root length 6.5 ± 0.14 cm. The regenerative ability of callus tissues was steady upto one year, while the nodules retained the totipotency to regenerate on optimal medium even after 3 years of subculturing. The histological sections of nodules confirm the typical anatomy exhibiting the vascular elements in bundles with well demarcated cortex and epidermal covering.

MAT (multi-auto-transformation) vector system has been one of the strategies to excise the selection marker gene from transgenic plants. Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105 harboring an ipt-type MAT vector, pNPI132, was used to produce morphologically normal transgenic Petunia hybrida 'Dainty Lady' employing isopentenyl transferase (ipt) gene as the selection marker gene. β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene was used as model gene of interest. Infected explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium without plant growth regulators (PGR) and antibiotics. Shoots showing extreme shooty phenotype (ESP) were produced from the adventitious shoots separated from the explants. Visual selection was carried out until production of morphologically normal shoots (approximately 4 months after infection). Histochemical GUS assay detected GUS gene in both ESP and normal shoots. PCR analysis confirmed the presence of model gene (GUS gene) and excision of the selection marker (ipt) gene in the normal transgenic plants. The insertion sites (1-3 for ipt gene and 1-2 for GUS gene) were detected by Southern blot analysis using DIG-labeled probes of both genes. These results show that ipt-type MAT vector can be used successfully to produce marker-free transgenic Petunia hybrida plants on PGR- and antibiotic-free MS medium.

The chickpea genotype, CSG-8962 was raised in screenhouse to study salinity induced changes in ethylene evolution, antioxidative defence system and membrane integrity in relation to changes in plant water and mineral content. At vegetative stage (60 d after sowing), the plants were exposed to single saline irrigation (0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 dS m^-1). Sampling was done 3 d after saline treatments. The other sets of treated plants were re-irrigated with water and sampled after further 3 d. The Ψ_w of leaf and Ψ_s of leaf and roots decreased from -0.47 to -0.61 MPa, -0.67 to -1.23 MPa and from -0.57 to -0.95 MPa, respectively, with increasing salinity. Similarly, RWC of leaf and roots reduced from 87.5 to 72.3 % and 96.7 to 84.35 %, respectively. The decline in Ψs of roots was mainly due to accumulation of proline and total soluble sugar. With salinity, increase in ethylene evolution, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) content and ACC oxidase activity was reported. Similarly, marked increase in H₂O₂ content (20 - 182 %) and lipid peroxidation (43 - 170 %) was observed. The defense mechanism activated in roots was confirmed by the increased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione transferase (GTase), glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase (CAT) but ascorbic acid (AA) content was decreased. About 3-fold increase in Na⁺/K⁺ ratio and 2.5 fold increase in Cl^- content was observed. Upon desalinization, a partial recovery was observed in most of the parameters studied.