"Budding" and Nuclear Division in Cultured Protoplasts of Corn, Convolvulus, and Onion

Protoplasts were isolated from seedlings of Zea mays L, roots of Convolvulus arvensis L, and root callus of C arvensis L. (filamentous strain of root callus) and Allium cepa L. by cellulase treatment They were maintained for over 3 weeks in liquid medium containing either 0.4 M sorbitol or a mixture of sorbitol and 1% sucrose. Protoplasts of C. arvensis L were observed to form protuberances or "buds"; such protoplasts demonstrated regenerated wall formation within 2-3 days of culture A few protoplasts exhibited nuclear divisions on the second day of culture About 4%-5% became binucleate, and 2% became three- to four-nucleate In experiments on the effect of "Sendai" virus on plant protoplasts, no agglutination or fusion was observed