Effects of nutrients, cell density and culture techniques on protoplast regeneration and early protonema development in a moss, Physcomitrella patens

To regenerate auxotrophic mutants of Physcomitrella patens, two media of increasing complexity were developed. The survival rate of protoplasts was around 30% higher on full medium when compared to standard minimal medium. Protoplast survival was higher in a medium containing 2.5 mmol/L ammonium tartrate compared to a medium with 5 mmol/L of this compound. Solid medium had a positive effect on protoplast survival compared to either liquid medium or solid medium overlaid with cellophane; the maximum survival rate being 31.6%. However, the number of surviving protoplasts without any cell division during the first ten days increased on solid medium. Density and survival rate of protoplasts were positively correlated, but the formation of long protonema filaments decreased markedly. The effect of different protoplast densities could be explained partly by physiologically active compounds excreted into the medium.