Electrofusion of protoplasts from Porphyra haitanensis and P. yezoensis thalli (Rhodophyta).

In this paper the electrofusion of protoplasts from P. haitanensis and P. yezoensis thalli by using an electrofusion instrument (Shimadzu Company, Japan) under different conditions of AC field, DC pulse, fusion buffer solutions and concentrations of protease are described. The results showed that the fusion rate could reach 21-31% by applying AC field of 30-35V for 25-30s and DC pulse of 300-350 V for 60 microseconds and in the presence of 3 mM Ca2+ and 3 mM Mg2+ in the fusion buffer. The pretreatment with protease had a positive effect on cell fusion. The fusion cells formed cell walls after 7 day's culture and grew into cell aggregates after 41 day's culture.