Differential effects of electrofusion and electropermeabilization parameters on the membrane integrity of plant protoplasts.

Ethane was used as an indicator of lipid peroxidation in order to characterize the membrane damage induced by electrical pulses during the processes of electrofusion and electropermeabilization. The increase of ethane in fused protoplasts ofVicia faba L. was found to be correlated with the intensity of field strength and pulse number, which also affected the yield of hybrids. The degree of membrane damage is postulated to depend on the accumulation of lipid free-radicals, which can be increased by light, by longer storage time of protoplasts and by higher field strength and pulse number. As a result, the conditions for electropermeabilization lead to greater membrane damage compared with those for electrofusion. The measurement of ethane production may prove to be useful for characterization of the membrane integrity, viability and regeneration ability of protoplasts.