Plant regeneration from protoplasts of embryogenic suspension cultures of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.)

An embryogenic suspension culture of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) consisting of small, embryogenic cell clusters was obtained from callus formed on basal sections of young leaves through a process of selective enrichment. These suspensions were used as a source of protoplasts. The isolated protoplasts divided at a frequency of 0.5–10% when plated in an agarose solidified culture medium. Conditioned medium, in which embryogenic Dactylis suspension cultures had been grown, was found to increase the rate of cell colony formation. Protoplast-derived colonies grew rapidly in a bead-type culture system of floating agarose slabs in liquid medium. New suspension cultures formed as the colonies grew out of the agarose. These cultures were embryogenic and formed green plantlets when plated on a solid medium lacking auxin. The plantlets were established in soil and grown to mature plants.Abbreviations B5 medium according to Gamborg et al. (1968) - SH-x medium according to Schenk and Hildebrandt (1972) supplemented with x M dicamba - dicamba 3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid - KM-8p medium 8p of Kao and Michayluk (1975)     

Plant regeneration from callus and protoplast cultures of Helianthus giganteus L.

Summary Methods of plant regeneration from callus and protoplasts of Helianthus giganteus L. are described. Embryogenic callus was obtained from leaf explants and plants were regenerated from these calli on MS media with different combinations of benzyladenine and naphtaleneacetic acid. Leaf protoplasts isolated from in vitro grown plants formed somatic embryos when cultured in agarose solidified droplets of V-KM medium containing benzyladenine and naphtaleneacetic acid. Embryos developed into plantlets on media with reduced auxin contents. Regenerated plants were successfully planted in soil.Abbreviations BA benzyladenine - IAA indoleacetic acid - MS Murashige and Skoog medium - NAA naphtaleneacetic acid - V-KM protoplast culture medium of Binding and Nehls     

Tracheary Element Formation from Single Isolated Cells in Culture

Friable callus tissue of Centaurea cyanus L. was grown on a solidified synthetic nutrient medium (EBM-1) to produce a tissue with a low frequency of differentiated tracheary elements. Tissues were then suspended in liquid nutrient medium with agitation to produce a suspension which was filtered and the single-cell suspension resulting was used as inoculum for either cell suspension cultures or for plating of cells into solidified medium in Petri plates. Media for the suspension cultures were selected to favor cytodifferentiation of tracheary elements. Differentiated tracheary elements formed as early as 10 days and numbers of tracheary elements increased with time roughly in relation to the increase in total cell number. From plating experiments it was shown conclusively that single isolated parenchyma cells differentiated directly into single isolated tracheary elements, although this event was rare. More usual was the division of isolated cells to form small colonies and then the differentiation of one, several or all of the cells into tracheary elements. Comparisons are made between results with cell plating experiments and cell suspension cultures. Optimism is expressed for finding a cell suspension culture system for studying cytodifferentiation.     

Plant regeneration from long term suspension culture-derived protoplasts of hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Highly regenerable callus cultures have been obtained from immature embryos of hexaploid wheat cv. Oderzo. Friable fast growing calli were induced at high frequency. Suspensions were initiated from the most friable callus lines: they became established in about two months. Suspensions consisted of cell aggregates of 30 to 1000 um in diameter. Upon plating on MS hormone-free medium, suspensions regenerated green plantlets, and their regenerative capability was maintained for at least 10 months. Protoplasts were isolated from 7–8 day old suspension cultures with a yield of 4–6×10⁶ protoplasts/g fresh weight cells. Protoplast culture was either in liquid medium or in a bead-type system with agarose beads. First divisions were detected at day 5. At day 14 visible colonies were detected and the plating efficiency was evaluated between 2 and 8% over the initial number of protoplasts plated. Protoplast-derived calli were cultured in the presence of 1 mg/l IAA and 0.5 mg/l zeatin and were used for reinitiating new suspension cultures. Upon plating onto MS hormone-free medium, with or without the addition of 0.1 mg/l GA3, calliclones were induced to differentiate. Regeneration of complete plantlets, with shoot and roots took about two months. Plantlets were grown in sterile conditions until 12–15 cm height, and were subsequently transplanted in soil.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - MS Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium - PCV packed cell volume - MES morpholinoethanesulfonic acid     

Fertile indica and japonica rice plants regenerated from protoplasts isolated from embryogenic haploid suspension cultures

Summary A system to regenerate fertile rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants (both indica and japonica varieties) from protoplasts isolated from anther-derived embryogenic haploid suspension cultures has been established. Green plants were regenerated from protoplast-derived cell clusters five months after suspension culture initiation. Protoplast yields and subsequent growth of the protoplast-derived microcalli were enhanced by transferring suspension cells into AA medium (Muller et al. 1978) three to four days prior to protoplast isolation. Protoplasts were cultured initially in Kao medium (Kao et al. 1977) and in association with nurse cells for four weeks. Protoplast-derived microcalli were transferred onto N6 (Chu et al. 1975) or MS (Murashige and Skoog 1962) media for callus proliferation. Callus growth was more rapid and the calli were more enbryogenic when grown on N6 medium. The 2,4-D concentration used to develop the suspension culture was important. Cell cultures grown in medium containing 0.5 mg/l 2,4-D released protoplasts whose plating efficiency was higher than for protoplasts obtained from suspension cultures grown in 2.0 mg/l 2,4-D. However, suspension cells grown in 2.0 mg/l 2,4-D were superior with regard to the ability of protoplast-derived calli to regenerate green plants. Amongst several hormone treatments evaluated, a combination of 0.5 mg/l NAA + 5.0 mg/l BAP resulted in the largest number of green plants regenerated. There were no significant differences between BAP or kinetin regarding total number of plants regenerated. More than 200 green plants have been produced form six independently initiated suspension cell lines. The number of regenerated plants per 10⁶ protoplats plated anged from 0.4 to 20.0, and the average seed fertility of single panicles of these R_O plants was about 40%.     

Callus production from protoplasts of Cyclamen persicum

Cyclamen persicum (Mill.) cv. Sierra Rose protoplasts were isolated from adventitious shoots regenerated in vitro from petiole and leaf explants with yields of 1.3 × 106 protoplasts/g f.wt. of tissue. Protoplasts were embedded within agarose lenses bathed in modified KM8p medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l-1 NAA, 0.1 mg l-1 2,4-D and 0.5 mg l-1 BA. Cell division was observed after 4–5 days. After 6 weeks calli had grown out of the lenses which were transferred to modified MS medium for further callus growth. The most rapid callus growth was on medium containing 0.1 mg l-1 NAA and 10 mg l-1 TDZ. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Sugarcane tissue and protoplast culture

Experiments are described which improve the protocols for initiating in vitro cultures of sugarcane and allowing efficient regeneration of plants even after 30 months of callus proliferation. Procedures adopted included use of leaf base explants, CS medium with 3 mg/l 2, 4-D and 0.25 mg/l kinetin for callus initiation and growth, MS medium with 0.5 mg/l IAA and 1 mg/l BAP for shoots, MS medium with 5 mg/l NAA and 7% (wt/vol) sucrose for rooting of shoots. Casein hydrolysate (N-Z amine) significantly shortened the lag period in the growth of sugarcane suspension cultures, but did not increase the rate of growth following the lag phase. Protoplasts isolated from two types of cultures could be grown to re-establish cell cultures but no plants have yet been regenerated derived from isolated protoplasts.     

Haploid Plant Regeneration from Protoplast Cultures of Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.)

Haploid suspension callus cultures from embryos of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf. ) × maize (Zea mays L. ) crosses were used for protoplast isolation. Experimental results from enzyme digestion showed large numbers of viable protoplasts released from both suspension culture and solid culture of callus cut into small pieces of 1 mm in size prior to incubation in an enzyme solution containing 2.0% cellulase RS and 0.5 % pectolyase Y-23. Division frequency of protoplasts isolated from suspension cultured callus was quite different from that of solid cultured callus, however, the former being 5.20%, and the latter less than 1.0% when cultured on KM8p medium containing 1.0 mg/L 2, 4-D using LMP (low melting point) agarose embedding method. Embryogenic ealli could be selected out from protoplast-derived microcalli after 2 to 3 subcultures. Plants could be regenerated from protoplast-derived embryogenic calli after 20 days of culture on differentiation medium I (MS basal medium supplemented with 0.2 mg/L 2, 4-D, 1.0 mg/L BAP, 0. I mg/L NAA, 3 %/4 su- crose, 200 mg/L casein hydrolysate, 146 mg/L glutamine, 300 mg/L aspartic acid) and (components were the same as I without 2, 4-D) respectively. The plant regeneration frequency was about 20%. Chromosome count of root tip cells of 4 plants of the 22 protoplast- derived plants sampled at random revealed haploid in nature (2n= 2x= 14).     

Fertile plant regeneration from protoplasts of meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.)

Suspension cultures from mature embryo-derived compact callus were initiated in seven meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.) cultivars. Four to six months after initiation, embryogenic suspension cultures with a moderate growth rate were established from three of them (cvs. Barmondo, Belimo and Leopard). These suspension cultures showed the capacity, maintained over six months, to regenerate green plants which could be grown to maturity under greenhouse conditions.Morphogenic suspension cultures from single genotypes of three F. pratensis cultivars (cvs. Barmondo, Belimo and Leopard) yielded large numbers of protoplasts, which upon culture in agarose beads using nurse cells formed microcalli with an overall plating efficiency in the range of 10^-3 to 10^-4. Mature plants were reproducibly regenerated and established in soil, from such protoplasts during a period of six months. The regeneration of fertile plants from protoplasts derived from suspension cultures of meadow fescue and its implications on gene transfer technology for this species are discussed.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid.     

Plant regeneration fromBrassicanigra (L.) Koch stem protoplasts

Summary Protoplasts ofBrassica nigra (L.) Koch were isolated from stem peels of bolting racemes and cultured in 1.5 ml of VN1 liquid medium. The protoplasts in the liquid medium were plated on top of half strength MS medium supplemented with 400 mg/liter glutamine, 15 mg/liter glutathione, 50 mg/literl-serine, 0.25 mg/liter 6-benzylaminopurine, 0.5 mg/liter 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 1.5% sucrose, and 5% mannitol, pH, 5.7, solidified with 0.3% agarose. Ten percent of calli obtained from the protoplasts developed into plantlets within 4 wk after transfer onto 2N regeneration medium which contains MS salts plus 200 mg/liter casein hydrolysate, 0.625 mg/liter 6-benzylaminopurine, 0.625 mg/liter kinetin, 0.625 mg/liter 6-(γ,γ-dimethylallylamino)-purine, 0.625 mg/liter zeatin, 0.5 mg/liter 1-naphthaleneacetic acid, 1.5% sucrose, and 0.4% agarose. THis is the first report of plant regeneration fromB. nigra protoplasts.     

Plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis from protoplasts of six explants in Coker 201 (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium hirsutum</Emphasis>)

Fertile regenerated plants were obtained from protoplasts via somatic embryogenesis in Coker 201 (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Protoplasts were isolated from six different explantsleaves, hypocotyls, young roots, embryogenic callus, immature somatic embryos and suspension cultures and cultured in liquid thin layer KM8P medium. Callus-forming percentage of 20–50% was obtained in protoplast cultures from embryogenic callus, immature embryos and suspension cultures, and visible callus formed within 2 months. Callus-forming percentage of 5–20% in protoplast cultures from young roots, hypocotyls and leaves, and visible callus formed in 3 months. NAA 5.371 μM/kinetin 0.929 μM was effective to stimulate protoplast division and callus formation from six explants. Percentage of callus formation in the medium with 2,4-D 0.452 μM/kinetin 0.465 μM was over 40% from suspension cultures and immature embryos, 25% from embryogenic callus and 10% from hypocotyls. Callus from protoplasts developed into plantlets via somatic embryogenesis. Over 100 plantlets were obtained from protoplasts derived from 6 explants. Ten plants have been transferred to the soil, where they all have set seeds.     

Plant regeneration from protoplasts of wild rice (Oryza rufipogon Griff.)

Embryogenic callus initiated from basal segments of micropropagated shoots of Oryza rufipogon were used to initiate cell suspension cultures. After approximately 3 months these cultures were capable of yielding large numbers of protoplasts which underwent sustained division in agarose-solidified medium at a frequency comparable to that observed with Japonica rice protoplasts in previous studies. O. rufipogon plants were reproducibly regenerated from the protoplast-derived callus and are currently being grown to maturity. This is the first report of plant regeneration from protoplasts of a wild species of Oryza.Abbreviations BAP 6-benzyalamino purine - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - MES 2[N-morpholino] ethanesulphonic acid - NAA -naphthalene acetic acid - PAR photosynthetically active radiation - SCV settled-cell volume     

Establishment of embryogenic callus and high protoplast yielding suspension cultures of sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids)

For 18 sugarcane cultivars, four distinct callus types developed on leaf explant tissue cultured on modified MS medium, but only Type 3 (embryogenic) and Type 4 (organogenic) were capable of plant regeneration. Cell suspension cultures were initiated from embryogenic callus incubated in a liquid medium. In stage one the callus adapted to the liquid medium. In stage two a heterogeneous cell suspension culture formed in 14 cultivars after five to eight weeks of culture. In stage three a homogeneous cell suspension culture was developed in six cultivars after 10 to 14 weeks by selective subculturing to increase the proportion of actively dividing cells from the heterogeneous cell suspension culture. Plants were regenerated from cell aggregates in heterogeneous cell suspension cultures for up to 148 days of culture but plants could not be regenerated from homogeneous cell suspension cultures. High yields of protoplasts were obtained from homogeneous cell suspension cultures (3.4 to 5.2 × 10⁶ protoplasts per gram fresh weight of cells [gfwt^-1]) compared to heterogeneous cell suspension cultures (0.1 × 10⁶ protoplasts gfwt^-1). Higher yields of protoplasts were obtained from homogeneous cell suspension cultures for cultivars Q63 and Q96 after regenerating callus from the cell suspension cultures, then recycling this callus to liquid medium (S-cell suspension cultures). This process increased protoplast yield to 9.4 × 10⁶ protoplasts gfwt^-1. Protoplasts isolated from S-cell suspension cultures were regenerated to callus and recycled to produce SP-cell suspension cultures yielding 6.4 to 13.2 × 10⁶ protoplasts gfwt^-1. This recycling of callus to produce S-cell suspension cultures allowed protoplasts to be isolated for the first time from cell lines of cultivars Q110 and Q138.     

Protoplast culture of rice (Oryza sativa L.) using media solidified with agarose

A procedure is described for the reproducible establishment of rice cell suspension cultures from callus of embryo origin. Protoplasts were readily isolated from cell suspension of four rice cultivars, including japonica and indica types, when maintained in an amino acid-based culture medium. Sustained protoplast division from two japonica genotypes has been obtained in agarose solidified culture medium. An increase in the agarose concentration from 0.6% to 1.2% (w/v) produced a marked improvement in protoplast survival, division and plating efficiency. Protoplast division and plating efficiency frequencies of up to 26% and 0.5%, respectively, were obtained at the higher agarose level. The protoplast-derived calli were similar in appearance to explant-derived morphogenic callus and produced distinct embryo-like structures.     

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.     

Optimization of protoplast isolation from NaCl stressed primary, secondary and tertiary calli derived from mature seeds of Bangladeshi indica rice cultivar Binnatoa

A standardized protocol was developed for the isolation of protoplasts from salt stressed primary, secondary and tertiary calli of the moderately salt tolerant indica rice land race Binnatoa. Calli were induced from mature seeds using MS2 callus induction media supplemented with 0, 50 and 100 mM NaCl. Subsequently cultures were maintained in the same medium for 1–2 passages with or without salt stress at the same concentrations. Large numbers of protoplasts (about 1.57–2.10×10⁵/ml) with high viability were isolated from both control and salt stressed (50 and 100 mM NaCl) secondary and tertiary calli compared with the primary calli. The mannitol concentraion in the isolation and washing media was gradually increased, based on salt concentrations in which 13–15% was the most compatible for the control and 50 mM NaCl stressed calli and 17% for the 100 mM NaCl stressed calli. Isolated protoplasts at a density of 1–1.5×10⁵/ml were cultured in MS1₁₅ medium by liquid culture or agarose droplets. The first division of protoplasts was observed 4–5 days after culture using either method. The agarose droplet method led to sustained division of protoplasts and microcolonies formed within 2 weeks. Although no microcalli or protocalli were observed the procedure described provides a method for the isolation of salt-stressed protoplasts in indica rice which avoids the need for laborious and time-consuming suspension cultures. Subsequent regeneration from calli, derived from these protoplasts is reported in a further publication.     

Isolation and culture of protoplasts from callus tissue of Hibiscus syriacus L.

Protoplasts were isolated from callus tissue of Hibiscus syriacus L. using a solution of 3% Onozuka cellulase, 1% Onozuka macerozyme, and 0.5% hemicellulase. Highest yields of viable protoplasts were obtained from friable, white or yellow callus 8–9 days after subculture on Murashige & Skoog medium with 0.5 mg l^-1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 0.1 mg l^-1 kinetin. Protoplasts cultured in thin liquid layers of this medium with mannitol continued dividing for longer than those cultured in droplets or in an agar medium. Cultures were maintained until protoplasts had divided to form groups of more than ten cells. Cell groups developed into callus and continued to grow on an agar medium, but failed to differentiate on a regeneration medium with 2 mg l^-1 naphthalene acetic acid and 1 mg l^-1 benzylaminopurine.     

Plant regeneration from hypocotyl-derived protoplasts of Brassica juncea (L.) Czern and Coss

Protoplasts isolated from etiolated hypocotyls of 6-day-old seedlings of Brassica juncea cv RLM 198 were cultured in a modified V₄₇ medium containing 7% mannitol, 2% sucrose, 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D, 0.1 mg/l NAA and 0.4 mg/l BAP, at a density of 5×10⁴ protoplasts per ml of medium. Cultures were incubated in the dark at 25+1°C. After 7 d of culture, cell colonies were diluted with 8_p medium containing 5% mannitol and a similar hormone combination as described earlier. After 14 d, cell colonies were embedded in 8_p medium containing agarose and 3.5% mannitol. Immediately upon gelling, liquid 8_p medium was added to each Petri dish as an overlayer, and cultures were incubated in the light. After a total of 3 to 4 weeks in culture, microcalli were obtained. A modified MS medium with 2% sucrose, 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D and 0.1 mg/l kinetin solidified with 0.5% agarose was used for growing microcalli into callus lines. On MS medium containing 2% sucrose, 0.1 mg/l IAA, 2.0 mg/l zeatin riboside and 2.0 mg/l BAP, solidified with 0.5% agarose, about 35% of the calli regenerated multiple shoots. The time required from culture of protoplasts to multiple shoot regeneration was about 10 weeks. Regenerated shoots were rooted and plants were re-established in a growth chamber at high frequency.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - IAA Indole-3-acetic acid - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - IBA Indole-3-butyric acid     

Microcallus formation from maize protoplasts prepared from embryogenic callus

Conditions have been developed that induce maize (Zea mays L.) protoplasts to re-synthesize cell walls and to initiate cell divisions. Two types of embryogenic maize callus were used as a source of protoplasts: a heterogeneous callus (Type I) derived from immature embryos after three weeks in culture, and a friable, rapidly growing callus (Type II) selected from portions of the Type I callus. Many variables in the growth conditions of the donor tissue (type of medium, transfer schedule, age of callus), protoplast isolation solutions (pH, osmolarity, type and concentration of cell wall hydrolyzing enzymes, addition of polyamines) and conditions (amount of time in enzyme, amount of tissue per volume of enzyme incubation medium, agitation, preplasmolysis of source tissue, type of callus), and purification procedures (filtration and-or flotation), were found to affect both yield and viability of protoplasts (based upon fluorescein-diacetate staining). Our isolation procedure yielded high numbers of viable, uninucleated maize callus protoplasts which were densely cytoplasmic and varied in size from 20 to 50 m in diameter. Protoplasts plated in solid medium formed walls and divided several times. Of several gelling agents tested for protoplast propagation, only agarose resulted in protoplasts capable of sustained divisions leading to the formation of microcalli. Plating efficiency was established over a wide range of protoplast densities (10³–10⁷ protoplasts/ml). Highest plating efficiency (25%) was obtained at 1·10⁶ protoplasts/ml). The resulting microcalli grew to be dense clusters of about 0.1–0.5 mm in diameter and then stopped growing. Nurse cultures of maize and carrot (Daucus carota L.), were used to establish that individual protoplasts (not contaminating cells or cell clusters) formed walls and divided. Nurse cultures also increased the efficiency of microcallus formation from protoplasts.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - MS Murashige and Skoog (1962) salts - MS 1D Murashige and Skoog salts with 1 mg/l 2,4-D - MS 2D Murashige and Skoog salts with 2 mg/l 2,4-D - N₆ medium of Chu et al. (1975) - NN67-mod medium of Nitsch and Nitsch (1967) as modified in the present paper - FDA fluorescein diacetate - LMP low melting point     

Sugarcane protoplasts: factors affecting division and plant regeneration

Summary Sugarcane cell suspensions were initiated from leaf callus and sub-cultured every 7 to 10 days by alternate transfer to MS based medium with 3.0 and 1.0 mg 1^–12,4-D. Suspensions older than 3 months gave the most reproducible yields of protoplasts. Isolated protoplasts required 50 mM Ca²⁺ in the washing solution and 100 mM Ca²⁺ in the culture medium to prevent lysis. At plating densities of 2.0–3.0×10⁵ ml^–1, 18% or more of the isolated protoplasts produced cell colonies when cultured in droplets or sectors of Kao and Michayluk (1975) based medium with 1.2% w/v Sea Plaque agarose. Cell colonies were of two morphological types. Those consisting of small, tightly packed cells developed into morphogenic callus. The latter produced an abundance of green meristems from which shoots and whole plants were regenerated.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - FDA fluorescein diacetate - MS Murashige and Skoog (1962)