Plant Cell and Tissue Culture, 1990 Methods in Molecular Biology Series, Vol. 6

Plant Cell and Tissue Culture continues the high standards of Humana's Methods in Molecular Biology series. Its step-by-step approach (a hallmark of the series) is applied to a wide range of basic laboratory techniques and culture conditions appropriate to plant cells.

Because of the diversity of cell types, species, and culture methods, much of this volume is devoted to the culture of particular cell types and to the regeneration of these cells into whole plants. Special attention is also given to the genetic modification of plants, as well as to the economic significance of plant products.

Chapters cover a wide range of topics and techniques, including:? tissue culture media and selection ? cryopreservation ? callus culture techniques ? organ culture ? embryogenesis ? batch culture ? large-scale culture ? hormonal control ? fertilization techniques ? gene transfer ? cell immobilization ? production systems ? cell product purification ? DNA expression ? electrofusion of plant cells ? mutant selection ? mutagenesis techniques ? automation ? transfer of nuclei ? protoplast culture ? media analysis ? micropropagation.

A detailed appendix lists the formulas for the most commonly employed plant cell media. Comprehensive, easy to follow, and a pleasure to use, Pollard and Walker's Plant Cell and Tissue Culture is an essential tool for everyone--at all levels of proficiency and experience--involved in plant culture.

Selection of Media for Tissue and Cell Culture.- Growth Determination and Medium Analysis.- Measurements of Viability Suitable for Plant Tissue Cultures.- Cryopreservation of Plant Cells.- Hormonal Control of Growth and Development.- The Initiation and Maintenance of Callus Cultures.- Organogenesis in Callus Culture.- Manipulation of Shoot Formation in Cultured Explants.- Meristem-Tip Culture.- Micropropagation.- Grafting In Vitro.- Flower Organ Culture.- Fruit Organ Cultures.- Culture of Zygotic Embryos of Higher Plants.- Induction of Embryogenesis in Callus Culture.- Induction of Embryogenesis in Suspension Culture.- Microspore Culture in Brassica.- Growth of Ferns from Spores in Axenic Culture.- Clonal Propagation of Orchids.- Tissue Culture and Top-Fruit Tree Species.- Fertilization In Vitro and Culture of Fertilized Ovules of Higher Plants.- Vegetative Propagation of Cacti and Other Succulents In Vitro.- The Preparation of Micropropagated Plantlets for Transfer to Soil Without Acclimatization.- Protoplasts of Higher and Lower Plants.- Plant Protoplast Enucleation by Density Gradient Centrifugation.- Isolation and Transplantation of Nuclei into Plant Protoplasts.- Induction of Hairy Roots by Agrobacterium Rhizogenes and Growth of Hairy Roots In Vitro.- Agrobacterium Rhizogenes-Mediated Gene Transfer Using PRI 1855 and a Binary Vector.- Transformation of Rape with Agrobacterium tumeficiens-Based Vectors.- Transient and Stable Expression of Foreign DNA Introduced into Plant Protoplasts by Electroporation.- Protoplast Microinjection Using Agarose Microdrops.- Transformation of Plants Via the Shoot Apex.- Methods of Gene Transfer and Analysis in Higher Plants.- Electrofusion of Plant Cells.- Production of Cybrids in Rapeseed (Brassica napus).- Selection of Somatic Hybrids by Resistance Complementation.- Dual Fungal and Plant Cell Culture.- Mutagenesis Techniques in Plant Tissue Cultures.- Mutagenesis.- Techniques for Selecting Mutants from Plant Tissue Cultures.- Selection of Antimetabolite Resistant Mutants.- Selection of Chloroplast Mutants.- Large-Scale Culture of Plant Cells.- Batch Suspension Culture.- Production Systems.- Immobilization of Cells by Spontaneous Adhesio.- Plant Cell Immobilization in Alginate and Polyurethane Foam.- Alkaloid Secondary Products from Catharanthus roseus Cell Suspension.- Betanin Production and Release In Vitro from Suspension Cultures of Beta vulgaris.- Enzyme Extraction and Assessment of Enzyme Production.- Micromachines to Automate Plant Tissue Culture.- Automation of the Surface Sterilization System Procedure.