Enhanced protoplast division by encapsulation in droplets: An advance towards somatic hybridisation in recalcitrant white lupin

Lupins are highly nutritious fodder and pulse crops but the greatest challenge in their genetic enhancement is the difficulty in obtaining hybrids through conventional sexual approaches. To bypass this, a procedure for the culture of hitherto recalcitrant lupin protoplasts is now being developed so that the somatic hybrids can be regenerated. This study provides a basis for a regime to culture lupin protoplasts. Cotyledonary protoplasts of white lupin (Lupinus albus) were plated in two diverse media for the evaluation of various plating regimes. The protoplasts divided in agarose as well as in Gelrite? but embedding in agarose at 6 g L^?1 concentration resulted in a higher rate of mitosis. Sodium alginate embedding inhibited protoplast division. Protoplast plating in the form of liquid suspension was significantly inferior to embedding. A filter paper substratum was clearly noxious to protoplast division. Vis‐à‐vis other designs of plating, a 400% improvement in protoplast elongation and division was achieved by plating in the form of 25 μL droplets at the base of 60 mm × 15 mm Nunclon? dish and overlaying with liquid medium. Better results in terms of protoplast elongation and division were obtained with K8p medium as compared to the AS medium. This report on lupin protoplast culture represents a significant breakthrough in the genus in which morphogenesis has not been described to date.     

Effects of a Ficoll-agarose system on early division and development of mesophyll protoplasts of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

A method is described for regenerating callus from mesophyll protoplasts of a winter variety of Brassica napus. The method combines the use of Ficoll in an initial liquid medium, enhancing early protoplast division and cell colony formation, with a transfer to an agarose system after 10 days culture to give rapid microcalli formation. Further transfers resulted in callus regeneration and the initiation of organogenesis.     

Production of cell wall accumulative enzymes using immobilized protoplasts of Catharanthus roseus in agarose gel

Catharanthus roseus cells and protoplasts were used for production of peroxidase and -galactosidase which are accumulated in the cell wall. Only 4% (0.026 U ml^–1) of the total peroxidase was secreted into the broth by cultured cells while in cultured protoplasts, 45% (0.12 U ml^–1) was secreted. Protoplasts were protected against the physical and osmotic stresses by immobilizing them in 3% agarose gel (high mass transfer, non-electric charge, low gelation temperature). In order to increase peroxidase production, the immobilized protoplasts were cultivated in shake cultures at low osmotic pressure (12.3 to 16.4 atm) without disruption. During batch peroxidase production, the total activities obtained with free cells at 4.9 atm, free protoplasts at 19.3 atm, and immobilized protoplasts at 12.3 atm were 0.17, 2.54, and 5.16 U, respectively. When four repeated-batch cultures of the immobilized protoplasts were performed at 16.4 atm, 11.8 U of peroxidase was obtained. This system was also useful for the production of -galactosidase.     

An Efficient Protocol for Ulmus minor Mill. Protoplast Isolation and Culture in Agarose Droplets

We describe here an efficient and reproducible protocol for isolation and culture of protoplasts from Ulmus minor. Different sources of donor tissues were tested for protoplast isolation: callus and juvenile leaves from in vitro and greenhouse plants. Several combinations and concentrations of hydrolytic enzymes were used. Comparative tests between Cellulase Onozuka R10 and Cellulase Onozuka RS were made and the last one proved to be more efficient. Both the pectinases used, Macerozyme Onozuka R10 and Pectinase (Sigma^®), were efficient in protoplast isolation and there was no need for a more active pectinase. In vitro leaves proved to be the best source for protoplast isolation and produced an average of 3.96 × 10⁷ protoplasts per gram of fresh weigh. Elm mesophyll protoplasts were cultured using the advantageous method of agarose droplets and a modification of the Kao and Michayluk culture medium, using two plating densities (1 × 10⁵ and 2 × 10⁵ protoplasts ml^?1). Protoplast division and evolution into colonies and microcalli was promoted in the agarose droplets plated at 2 × 10⁵ protoplasts ml^?1. Ten weeks after protoplast culture initiation a plating efficiency of 2.7% was attained and the bigger microcalli, with at least 0.5 mm diameter, were transferred to a solid medium previously used for the production of embryogenic callus.     

Characterisation of protoplasts from hypocotyls of Helianthus annuus in relation to their tissue origin

Cells and protoplasts isolated from three different tissues of sunflower hypocotyls and cultured either in liquid or agarose medium were compared in terms of their volume, DNA content, division potential and embryoid formation. Epidermal and external cortical cells differ from other tissue cells by their small size, their weak response to plasmolysis and their low DNA content (around 1C). They contribute only very weakly to the dividing protoplast population. In contrast, protoplasts from cortical and medullar cells both have similar division potential, reaching 50%. The nuclear DNA content of these two cell types, as well as their corresponding protoplasts, has a 2C value, taking root tip cells in G0 phase as standard. The culture conditions induce the same specific response in protoplasts isolated from both tissues: exclusively loose colony formation in liquid medium, and mainly production of embryoids in agarose medium.     

Efficient protoplast regeneration for some homofermentative lactobacilli and pediococci

Conditions for protoplast regeneration were examined for several strains of homofermentative lactobacilli and pediococci isolated from silage. Attempts to regenerate protoplasts using previously published agar regeneration media for lactobacilli were unsuccessful for most of the strains. Replacing or increasing colloidal substances in a medium containing raffinose and MgCl(2) as osmotic stabilizers enabled efficient regeneration of the protoplasts at a frequency of 10-99%. A medium containing gelatin, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and no agar was effective for Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus pentosus and Lactobacillus rhamnosus protoplasts. An agar medium containing PVP (PVP medium) was effective for Pediococcus sp. protoplasts, and addition of agarose to the PVP medium enabled regeneration of Lactobacillus casei protoplasts. A medium containing calcium alginate gel and no agar was effective for Lactobacillus curvatus protoplasts. The type of colloidal substance required for protoplast regeneration varied from species to species. This result suggested that several kinds of media may be necessary to regenerate protoplasts for all the genera of lactobacilli and pediococci.     

Fertile plant regeneration from barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) protoplasts isolated from primary calluses

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) protoplasts were isolated from the immature embryo-derived primary calluses. These protoplasts were cultured with nurse cells, and they then divided to form colonies. After transfer of the colonies to regeneration medium, either green or albino shoots were regenerated from these colonies. A high agarose concentration (2.4% w/v) in the protoplast culture medium promoted protoplast division. The plantlets that developed strong root systems were transferred to the soil. These plants flowered and have set seeds.     

Factors Influencing Protoplast Viability of Suspension-Cultured Rice Cells during Isolation Process

Callus cells of rice (Oryza sativa L.) that were actively dividing in suspension culture had lost the ability to divide during the isolation process of protoplasts. Factors influencing the protoplast viability were examined using highly purified preparations of cellulase C₁, xylanase, and pectin lyase, which were essential enzymes for the isolation of protoplasts from the rice cells. The treatment of the cells with xylanase and pectin lyase, both of which are macerating enzymes, caused cellular damage. Xylanase treatment was more detrimental to the cells. Osmotic stress, cell wall fragments solubilized by xylanase, and disassembly of cortical microtubules were not the primary factors which damaged the rice cells and protoplasts. The addition of AgNO₃, an inhibitor of ethylene action, to the protoplast isolation medium increased the number of colonies formed from the cultured protoplasts, although the yield of protoplasts was reduced by the addition. Superoxide radical (O₂-) was generated from the cells treated with xylanase or pectin lyase. The addition of superoxide dismutase and catalase to the protoplast isolation medium resulted in a marked improvement in protoplast viability especially when the non-additive control protoplasts formed colonies with a low frequency. The addition of glutathione peroxidase and phospholipase A₂, which have been known to reduce and detoxify lipid hydroperoxides in membranes, to the protoplast culture medium significantly increased the frequency of colony formation. These results suggested that some of the damage to rice protoplasts may be caused by oxygen toxicity.     

Immobilization of plant protoplasts: Viability studies

Protoplasts of Daucus carota Ca68 and Catharanthus roseus have been immobilized by entrapment in gelforming polysaccharides (kappa-carrageenan, agarose and alginate). Uniform spherical beads of carrageenan and agarose containing the protoplasts have been prepared by utilizing an inert hydrophobic phase (vegetable oil). The entrapped protoplasts are viable and stabilized towards osmotic shock by the polymeric backbone. Standard methods have been used to study the viability and integrity of the entrapped protoplasts. Upon incubation in a relatively simple medium the immobilized protoplasts show a much higher viability after 14 days as compared to free protoplasts under the same conditions. The viability of D. carota protoplasts has also been monitored by an enzyme activity present in the cells (digitoxigenin 58-hydroxylase).     

Induction of efficient cell division in alfalfa protoplasts

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) protoplasts derived from cell suspension cultures divided inefficiently in liquid culture. The onset of cell division activity occurred synchronously among the protoplasts; however, many were blocked at cytokinesis and therefore did not complete first division. Very few of the cells that began to divide continued to do so. Immobilization of protoplasts in agarose after 1 to 4 days in liquid culture overcame this inhibition of division. Continuous growth in agarose was restricted and therefore microcolonies were transferred to agar medium to complete callus development. Plating efficiencies of 2–10% were achieved within 30 days of protoplast isolation. The agarose treatment was responsible for a 5- to 30-fold improvement in plating efficiency.Contribution No. 774 Ottawa Research Station     

Development of simple methods for preparation of yeast and plant protoplasts immobilized in alginate gel beads

A simple method for preparation of yeast and plant protoplasts immobilized in alginate gel beads was developed. Yeast cells were first immobilized in strontium alginate gel beads and then treated with protoplast isolation enzyme so that the protoplasts are formed inside the beads. In the case of plant cells, degassing treatment was necessary in order to facilitate enzyme penetration into the cell aggregates. A mixture of the degassing treated plant cells and sodium alginate solution was dropped into SrCl2 containing the protoplast isolation enzymes. Thus protoplasts isolation and gel solidification proceeded simultaneously. With these methods, the required time was shorter while the viability of the immobilized protoplasts were higher than when the conventional method is used.     

A method for the microinjection and culture of protoplasts at very low densities

A method has been developed which allows the recovery of calli from a high proportion of individual, injected, mesophyll protoplasts of Nicotiana tabacum c.v. Xanthi. A small drop of low melting point agarose is used both to hold protoplasts during microinjection and for their subsequent culture in feeder dishes. The feeder dishes consist of "beads" of protoplasts at a high density set in agarose to "feed" the infected protoplasts across a liquid medium.The method has been used successfully both with normal protoplasts and protoplasts from which the vacuole has been removed.Abbreviations NT medium Nagata-Takebe medium (Nagata and Takebe, 1971) - MS medium Murashige-Skoog medium (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) - NAA 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid - BAP 6-Benzylaminopurine - LMP agarose low melting point agarose     

Protoplast culture and plant regeneration ofPinellia ternata

A study was undertaken to develop a protoplast regeneration system for pinellia. A yield of 19 29 x 10⁵ protoplasts/g F. W. could be obtained from cell suspension cultures incubated in a digestion enzyme solution with 2% cellulase Onzuka R-10, 10% pectinase (Sigma), 0.01% pectolyase Y23. K8P and modified MS media were used to culture protoplasts in: a) liquid, b) liquid-solid double layer, or c) agarose embedded protoplast culture. The former two were conducive to colony formation from protoplast-derived cells. The frequency of cell division was about 8% after 3 days in culture. Gradually adding fresh medium of lower osmotic pressure into the medium for protoplast culture favored cell division. Calli (1–2 mm in diameter) formed after 30–40 days in culture. The calli transferred onto medium supplemented with KT (0.5 mg 1^–1) and NAA (0.2 mg 1)^–1) could regenerate plants after 40–50 days. Of 47 plantlets transplanted into plots, 29 flowered and were fertile.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - KT kinetin - CH casein hydrolysate     

Isolation of cells and protoplasts from leaves of in vitro propagated peach (Prunus persica) plants

Yields of 10⁶–10⁸ peach mesophyll cells and protoplasts · gfw^-1 were obtained depending on factors such as digesting enzymes, and leaf size. Onozuka R-10 (2%) in combination with Macerase (0.5%) was found best for protoplast isolation and mediocre for cell isolation among several enzyme combinations tested. Viability was 90% for protoplasts and 60% for cells. Pectolyase Y23 was found to be ineffective in our investigation. Small leaves, 4–10 mm in length, were a superior source for protoplast isolation than medium or big expanded leaves, 22–30 mm in length. The high yields of protoplasts could be obtained only when keeping the ratio of leaf biomass to volume of digesting enzyme solution under 20 mg ml^-1. Purification of protoplasts on a sucrose gradient yielded about 10⁷ protoplasts · gfw^-1, however, the preparation was still contaminated by intact cells. Protoplasts were cultured under different growth regulators and physical conditions. Limited growth and division of protoplasts embedded in agarose drops were observed.Abbreviations BA 6-benzyladenine - IBA indolebutyric acid - FDA fluorescein diacetate - MES 2-M-morpholinoethane sulphonic acid - MS Murashige and Skoog - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - PVP polyvinylpyrrolidone     

Isolation and culture of suspension-derived protoplasts ofBeta vulgaris L.

Sugar beet protoplasts (Beta vulgaris L.) were isolated from hypocotyl-derived suspension cells and cultured on modified Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 5 μM naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 2 μM 6-benzyl-aminopurine (BAP). Protoplasts were plated at a density 1.0–1.5×10⁵ cm⁻³ and incubated in either liquid medium or in medium solidified by 1.2% agarose, at 25°C in the dark. Comparison of two methods of culture unequivocally showed the second to be superior. Immobilizing the protoplast in agarose proved to be essential for obtaining sustained protoplast division and reproducible colony formation. The plating efficiency after two weeks of culture, expressed as the percentage of protoplasts which developed to form colonies, reached 40%. Subsequent subcultures of protoplast-derived callus to regeneration media with different concentrations of BAP (5 μM, 10 μM, 20 μM, 30 μM) resulted in very good callus proliferation at the three lowest concentrations, although organogenesis was not achieved.     

Agarose embedding affects cell wall regeneration and microtubule organization in sunflower hypocotyl protoplasts

Sunflower hypocotyl protoplasts ( Helianthus annuus L. cv. Emil) divide symmetrically to form loosely associated microcolonies when cultured in liquid medium, whereas when embedded in agarose beads they divide asymmetrically to give rise to embryo-like structures. To understand the relationship between protoplast embedding and cell division patterns, we studied the deposition of β-linked glucan and the dynamics of microtubules during early phases of culture. After one day in culture, under both culture conditions, a small proportion of the protoplasts had already begun to rebuild a β-glucan cell wall and the process reached completion in all protoplasts after 10 days. Callose deposition was faster in agarose than in liquid medium but it concerned only 30–40% of the protoplasts and was not related to either division type. No marked differences were observed in cortical arrays of microtubules. However, in embedded protoplasts perinuclear microtubules formed a well-defined basket around the nucleus; these microtubules were never observed in liquid-cultured protoplasts. A narrow preprophase band was present only in dividing protoplasts cultured in liquid medium. The results suggest that asymmetric division could be related to the lack of a narrow preprophase band and that protoplast embedding enhances nucleation or stabilization of microtubules.     

Plant regeneration of mesophyll protoplasts from a cytoplasmic albino mutant ofLycopersicon esculentum cv. Large Red Cherry

Mesophyll protoplasts from in vitro grown plants of a cytoplasmic albino mutant ofLycopersicon esculentum cv. Large Red Cherry were isolated with yields between 0.4 to 4.4 × 10⁶ protoplasts per gram leaf tissue. Success in the culture of these protoplasts was dependent on embedding of the protoplasts in 100 µ1 agarose droplets 0.6% (w/v). A plating efficiency of 4.0% was obtained when the protoplasts were cultured in TM-2 medium with sucrose concentrations of 8.7 to 9.6% (w/v) resulting in an osmotic pressure of 432 to 469 mOsmol kg^-1. After 14 days of protoplast culture, microcalli with a diameter of 3 mm were observed. After 3 weeks, macrocalli were obtained which were transferred to regeneration medium. Regeneration of shoot primordia, with a frequency of 19%, was obtained on TM-4 medium supplemented with 1% (w/v) sucrose. The first shoot primordia were visible 10 weeks after protoplast plating. For development of the shoot primordia into shoots it was necessary to increase the sucrose concentration to 6% (w/v). Eight out of eleven regenerants were diploid (2n = 2x = 24); the other three were tetraploid. Efficient regeneration of mesophyll albino protoplasts from tomato opens the way to select at the cellular level for the chloroplast transfers.     

新疆甜瓜子叶原生质体的培养和植株再生

从新疆甜瓜(Cucumts melo L.)的无菌苗子叶游离原生质体,用改良的 Miller 培养基(Ma)培养,得到了再生细胞的高频率分裂。比较了液体浅层培养、双层培养与琼脂糖珠看护培养等方法,发现由烟草瘤细胞 B_6S_3看护的琼脂培珠培养,最宜于新疆甜瓜子叶的原生质体。再生的愈伤组织经液体与固体两步培养程序分化出完整的小植株。     

The isolation, culture and division of protoplasts from citrus cotyledons

High yields (2.3 × 10⁵ to 1.3 × 10⁶ protoplasts/g.f.wt.) of isolated protoplasts were obtained from cotyledons of Cirus sinensis (L.) Osb. 'Valencia'. Osmotic potential of the medium and enzyme concentrations were important in obtaining high viability of preparations as indicated by FDA fluorescence. Adding malt extract to a Murashige-Tucker basal medium increased plating efficiencies somewhat, but not the rate or duration of cell division. However, modifying the NAA and kinetin concentration optimized plating efficiencies (up to 20%) of protoplasts and also the rate or duration of cell division. The highest plating efficiency and number of cells per colony were obtained on a defined medium containing NAA (15 μ M ). and kinetin (4.6 μ M ). Coincidence of percentage protoplast viability after 13 days (assessed by FDA fluorescence) with plating efficiency after 21 days indicates that FDA fluorescence is an accurate indicator of citrus protoplast viability.     

Culture of the Cotyledon Protoplast of Xinjiang Muskmelon(Cucumis melo L.) and Plant Regeneration

The cotyledon protoplasts were isolated from sterile seedling of Xinjiang muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) and cultured in modified Miller medium. The high frequency division of the regenerated cells was observed It was indicated that the agarose bead culture with B6S3 nurse cells is the most suitable for the cotyledon protoplast of Xinjiang muskmelon when compared with thin liquid culture and double layer culture. The intact plants were differentiated from the regenerated calli by two steps of culture with liquid first and then solid medium.