Callus formation from mesophyll protoplasts of Fagus sylvatica L.

Viable protoplasts of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) were isolated from sterilized young leaves of juvenile (3–5 years) and mature (40 years) trees. Isolation in a saline solution containing 0.5% (w/v) Pectinol and 2% (w/v) Cellulase R-10 yielded 3×10⁷ protoplasts per gram fresh weight. Protoplast culture in modified Kao and Michayluk (1975) medium resulted in cell wall regeneration and sustained cell divisions with the formation of colonies and microcalli.Abbreviations KM Kao and Michayluk (1975) - LS Linsmaier and Skoog (1965) - MES 2(N-morpholino)-ethane-sulfonic acid - NAA 1-naphthalene acetic acid - PVP Polyvinylpyrrolidone - Tween 80 Polyoxy-ethylene-sorbitan-monooleateDedicated to Landesforstmeister Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Fröhlich on the occasion of his 65th birthday.