Isolation,culture, and regeneration of leaf mesophyll protoplasts of selected clones ofSolanum

Summary Protoplast production and regeneration of nine cultivars ofSolanum tuberosum spp.tuberosum and a hybridSolanum phureja × S. chacoense (JV-2) were compared by using methods based on Grun & Chu (1978) and Shepard (1980). The yield of protoplasts differed significantly among clones. Small leaf samples produced more protoplast per gram than large ones. Significant environmental effects on protoplast production when only the light that the plants received was controlled became non-significant when both light and temperature were controlled by use of a growth chamber. JV-2 was successfully cultured by the method based on Grun & Chu (1978), but the cultivars were not. Protoplasts of six clones developed calli, when the method based on Shepard (1980) was used, but cvs. Atlantic and Kennebec usually failed to form cell walls. Success in growth and development during each stage of protoplast and callus culture was clone specific. Calli of JV-2, Russet Burbank, and Lemhi developed shoots while those of Butte, Superior, and Green Mountain did not. Authorized for publication as paper No 7121 in the Journal Series of The Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station.