This article describes conditions to optimize the yield of viable protoplasts from callus tissue of Asparagus densiflorus cv. Sprengeri and their subsequent regeneration into plantlets. Callus tissue was initiated by culturing spear sections (5-7 mm) on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.8% (wt/vol) Bacto agar, 3% (wt/vol) sucrose, 0.5 mg/l each of nicotinic acid, pyridoxine-HCl, and thiamine-HCl, 1 mg/l p-chlorophenoxyaceticacid (pCPA) and 1 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). The maximum protoplast yield was obtained in a mixture of 1% (wt/vol) Cellulysin, 0.8% (wt/vol) Rhozyme HP 150 and 0.3% (wt/vol) Macerase, dissolved in cell protoplast wash salt solution with 7 mM CaCl2 .2H2O, 3 mM MES, 0.6 M glucose, and 0.1 M mannitol. First divisions were observed after 3-4 days of initial culture. The plating efficiency was highest (7.8%) in half-strength MS semisolid medium containing 1 g/l glutamine, 0.6 M glucose, 0.1 M mannitol, 0.5 mg/l folic acid, 0.05 mg/l biotin, 2 mg/l ascorbic acid, 1 mg/l α-naphthaleneacetic acid, 0.5 mg/l zeatin, and 0.1% (wt/vol) Gelrite. Protoplast-derived microcolonies and microcalli were cultured on the same medium on which the primary callus culture was initiated. After 10-12 weeks, calli were transferred to shoot regeneration medium containing MS salts, 1 mg/l BAP, 0.5 mg/l pCPA and 0.2% Gelrite. Shoots (3-4 cm) were then transferred to MS rooting medium with 2 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid, and 0.2% Gelrite. Plantlets were obtained within 4-5 weeks.
Keywords: Fusarium; Key words Tissue culture; Somatic hybridization.