title: Electrically induced protoplast fusion using pulse electric fields for dielectrophoresis.
abstract: The formation of protoplast chains in suspensions of isolated pea (Pisum sativum cv Ran 1) mesophyll protoplasts induced by electric fields was studied. The chain formation induced by a sine-wave field (2 V, peak to peak; 500-0.1 kHz) was compared to that induced by an alternating pulse field (1 V, amplitude; 0.1-0.4 kHz). An increased number of dielectrophoretically paired protoplasts, formation of protoplast chains in the presence of CaCl(2) up to 5 mm, and protoplast fusion in the presence of 3 mm CaCl(2) were found when the pulse field was applied. The present results suggest the possibility of electrically induced protoplast fusion at cation concentrations that prevent fusion when sine-wave fields are applied.
authors.affiliation: Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology, Acad. G. Bonchev str., bl 21, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Dimitrova
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Christov