Rhizogenesis as an Intermediate Step towards Plant Regeneration of Protoplasts of Sour Cherry (Prunus Cerasus L.), Rosaceae

Abstract

The list of woody species, where sustained protoplast growth has been reported, has lengthened but several problems still need to be resolved before genetic manipulation techniques, using protoplasts, can be routinely applied to this economically important group of plants. The reproducible regeneration of plants, from isolated protoplasts is a prerequisite and, in this respect, woody species are considered by many to be recalcitrant (1) with only two examples of successful protoplast regeneration for members of the Rosaceae (2,3). We report here on firstly, a differential cultural requirement for isolated mesophyll protoplasts of three clones of sour cherry and secondly, on the pattern of plant regeneration, in one case, via rhizogenesis as an intermediate step.