The isolation and culture of protoplasts from an embryogenic cell suspension culture of Picea glauca (moench) voss.

Conditions were standardized for the isolation and culture of protoplasts from an embryogenic cell suspension culture of Picea glauca. A combination of 0.5% Cellulase R-10, 0.25% Macerozyme, 0.25% Driselase, 0.25% Rhozyme HP-150 with 0.5M mannitol and 5 mM CaCl2.2H2O produced an average of 4.5 × 10(6) protoplasts per gram fresh weight of cells. Of the several protoplast culture media tested, von Arnold and Eriksson and Kao and Michayluk (KM8P) media best supported mitotic divisions of protoplasts. A density of 10(5) protoplasts per ml and the addition of 5 mM glutamine to the culture medium was necessary to induce sustained divisions and microcallus formation. Microcalli grew into subculturable callus using a nurse culture technique.