Fusion of Plant Protoplasts by Electric Fields

The electrical fusion technique of Zimmermann and Scheurich (1981 Planta 151: 26-32) has been used to fuse mesophyll protoplasts of Avena, Zea, Vigna, Petunia, and Amaranthus. Electrical fusion proves to be a simple, effective, and general fusion technique that can be controlled to form either dikaryons or large multinucleate fusion bodies. In addition, we show that Vigna mesophyll protoplasts that are subjected to the electrical fields used in this technique are viable in culture. The construction of the fusion chambers, necessary electrical equipment, and the fusion protocol are described in sufficient detail for reproduction of the technique.