Protoplast Isolation and Regeneration of Three Species of Ulva in Axenic Culture

Several commercial and crude enzymes have been tested in various combinations to obtain isolated protoplasts from Ulvapertusa (mutant and wild type), U.fasciata and U. conglobata. Commercial enzymes together with abalone crude enzyme preparation, generally produced a high yield of protoplasts in all the species studied. Protoplasts which regenerated under the same culture conditions exhibited two developmental patterns. In one type protoplasts underwent repeated cell divisions and formed a thallus consisting of a single layer of cells. In the other type protoplasts, after cell wall regeneration, converted into reproductive cells and discharged many motile spores which on germination grew into normal plants. Protoplasts cultured in medium supplemented with mannitol showed abnormal cell division after regenerating cell walls.