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In vitro fertilisation of maize by single egg and sperm cell protoplast fusion mediated by high calcium and high pH

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2008

Erhard Kranz  and
Horst Lörz
Erhard Kranz*
Affiliation:
Institut für Allgemeine Botanik, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
Horst Lörz
Affiliation:
Institut für Allgemeine Botanik, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
*
Erhard Kranz, Insitut für Allgemeine Botanik, Angewandte Molekulabiologie der Pflanzen II, Universität Hamburg, Ohnhorststrasse 18, D-22609 Hamburg, Germany. Tel: ++49/40/822 82 227. Fax:+ +49/40/822 82 229.
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Summary

We present evidence for the fusion of isolated single maize egg and sperm cell protoplasts in a mannitol solution (400–430 mosmol/kg H2O) containing 0.05 M CaCl2 at pH 11.0, followed by cell division of the fusion products. These findings allow the performance of in vitro fertilisation of higher plants by combining single gametes as in lower plant and animal systems. Further, our findings open new avenues for investigating the basic mechanisms of adhesion and fusion of higher plant gametes and eventually for examining processes that inhibit polyspermy in higher plants.

Keywords

EggFusionIn vitro fertilisationMaizespem
Type
Article
Information
Zygote , Volume 2 , Issue 2 , May 1994 , pp. 125 - 128
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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