STUDIES ON LEAF MESOPHYLL PROTOPLAST OF CITRUS

The present work outlines new procedures for protoplast culture of Citrus sinensis (L) osb var 'Valencia' by manipulation of selected medium components which appear to play a key in obtaining successful in Vitro responses. High yields (10.1x100000 protoplast g.f.wt) of isolation protoplast were obtained from leaf mesophyll using cellulase 3%; macerase 0.5% and osmotic pressure solution at 825m mole/kg. Osmotic potential of the medium was important in obtaining high viability of preparations as indicated by FDA Fluorescence. Washing media adjusted by adding different concentrations of glutamine; sucrose and mannitol, measured by vapor pressure osmometer. Primary results indicated that the optimum osmotic potential of the medium was the nearest one of leaf osmotic pressure.