Plant regeneration from protoplasts of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf. cv. D6962).

Suspension cultures of durum wheat were established from embryogenic callus maintained in liquid medium for 30 months. Protoplasts were readily isolated from the suspension cultures with yields as high as 3 X 10(7) protoplasts per g fresh weight suspension cells. When incubated in a modified MS medium containing half strength of the macroelements, 5 μM 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and 0.6 M glucose, protoplast-derived cells divided at frequencies ranging from 1.4 to 10.0 %. After transfer to a solid subculture medium, the protoplast-derived colonies formed embryogenic protuberances, from which green plants have been regenerated.