This led to significant developments in the field of somatic cell genetics in higher plants. Cultured protoplasts can be used not only for somatic cell fusions, but also for taking up foreign DNA, cell organelles, bacteria and virus particles. In view of this, the isolation and culture of protoplasts has become a very important area of research, within the realm of plant biotechnology.
The essential ingredients of the technique include isolation of protoplasts, culture of protoplasts, introduction of foreign DNA into protoplasts, raising whole plants from cultured protoplasts and fusion of protoplasts leading to somatic hybridization.
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