Protoplast Induction in Chlorella Species

Abstract

Twelve strains of Chlorella which lack the sporopollenin layer in their cell wall were treated with polysaccharide degrading enzyme mixtures. Osmotically labile protoplasts were obtained from two of them (C. ellipsoidea C-87 and C. saccharophila C-211). The absence of the cell wall was demonstrated by the Calcofluor stain and by electron microscopies. Some protoplasts adhered to each other; it seemed like a cell fusion. Protoplasts of C. ellipsoidea C-87 were able to regenerate the cell wall and to grow on a regeneration medium.