Electrostimulated regeneration of plantlets from protoplasts derived from cell suspensions of barley (Hordeum vulgare)

For transformation and somatic hybridisation of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), it is necessary to develop an efficient and reliable system for routne plant regeneration from protoplasts. Freshly‐isolated cell suspension‐derived protoplasts were treated with both rectangular and exponential electric pulses with the aim of increasing plating efficiency as well as to stimulate regenerative capacity. Suspensions were initiated from callus from immature embryos of barley (cv. Dissa). Increasing field strength, capicitance, or number of applied pulses resulted in a decreased protoplast viability and plating efficency. However, the regeneration of albino leaves and albino plantlets from electro‐treated protoplasts was stimulated in comparison with controls.