Protoplast

This means cell wall digestion and protoplast storage must be done in an isotonic solution to prevent rupture of the plasma membrane.

[citation needed] Protoplasts can be used to study membrane biology, including the uptake of macromolecules and viruses .

[8] Growth of protoplasts into callus and regeneration of shoots requires the proper balance of plant growth regulators in the tissue culture medium that must be customized for each species of plant.

Instead, they regenerate directly into the filamentous protonema, mimicking a germinating moss spore.

Protoplasts from different species are induced to fuse by using an electric field or a solution of polyethylene glycol.

Protoplasts of cells from a petunia's leaf
Protoplasts of the moss Physcomitrella patens
Fused protoplast (on left), containing both chloroplasts (from a leaf cell) as well as a coloured vacuole (from a petal).