High yield isolation of mesophyll protoplasts from wheat, barley and rye

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Efficient procedures are described for high‐yield isolation of mesophyll protoplasts from spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Glenlea), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Frederick), barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Bruce) and rye (Secale cereale L. cv. Puma). Factors such as plant age, composition of the incubation medium during isolation, purification procedures and culture medium affect protoplast yield, viability and metabolic competence, as measured by light‐dependent CO2 fixation. Optimal osmolarity of the isolation medium was equivalent to 1.8 times that measured in the leaves of all plant material used. The presence of 2 mM ascorbic acid in the preincubation and isolation medium increased the yield by 50% and conserved viability and metabolic competence. The protoplasts were stable for up to 48 h without loss of either viability or of original activity of CO2 fixation, which was in the order of 100 μmol CO2 (mg chl)−1h−1. In our MC‐56 liquid medium these protoplasts regenerated cell walls within 72 h and a few divided.