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Individual selection, culture and manipulation of higher plant cells

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Summary

Due to the heterogeneity in morphology, physiological and morphogenetical capabilities of higher plant cells in mass culture, the development of methods for individually culturing defined cells seemed to be useful and necessary. Individual cell culture represents a powerful tool for studies on the physiology of different cell types, the analysis of differentiation programs, the genetic manipulation of plant cells and cell-cell interactions. An improved microculture system based on a computer-controlled set-up for the efficient selection, transfer and individual culture of defined higher plant cells until regeneration of whole plants is described. Related experimental approaches for individually manipulating higher plant cells under controlled conditions, such as electrofusion of defined pairs of protoplasts and subprotoplasts, cell reconstruction and intranuclear microinjection of protoplasts and karyoplasts — mainly performed with cells of the crop plant Brassica napus L. — are presented.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Zellbiologie, D-6802, Rosenhof, Ladenburg, Federal Republic of Germany

    H. -G. Schweiger, J. Dirk, E. Kranz, G. Neuhaus, G. Spangenberg & D. Wolff

  2. Abteilung für Zellbiologie und Zellkultur, Botanisches Institut, Universität München, Menzinger Strasse 67, D-8000, München 19, Federal Republic of Germany

    H. -U. Koop

Authors
  1. H. -G. Schweiger
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  2. J. Dirk
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  3. H. -U. Koop
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  4. E. Kranz
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  5. G. Neuhaus
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  6. G. Spangenberg
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  7. D. Wolff
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Additional information

Communicated by Yu. Gleba

This article is dedicated to the memory of H.-G. Schweiger, initiator and mentor of the experimental single cell approach reviewed herein

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Schweiger, H.G., Dirk, J., Koop, H.U. et al. Individual selection, culture and manipulation of higher plant cells. Theoret. Appl. Genetics 73, 769–783 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00289379

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