Genetic engineering through DNA recombinants and the in vitro
manipulation of isolated protoplasts has recently attracted much atten
tion in agricultural biotechnology, and has greatly advanced during the
last 5 years. In an earlier book, Plant Protoplasts and Genetic Engineer
ing I, methods for the isolation, fusion and culture of protoplasts were
reviewed and the regeneration of complete plants from isolated pro
toplasts of rice, potato, soybean, linseed, cabbage, chicory, lettuce,
but terbur, orchids, citrus and some other tree species, and
interspecific and intergeneric somatic hybrids in Lycopersicon, Petunia,
Nicotiana, Solanum, Glycine, Citrus, Brassica, Medicago and Trifolium
spp. were discussed. The present volume, Plant Protoplasts and Genetic
Engineering II, deals with some of the newer techniques such as
microinjections, elec trofusion, flow cytometry, uptake and integration
of DNA, nuclei, iso lated chromosomes by plant protoplasts and the
subsequent regeneration of transgenic plants. The literature on the DNA
recombinants and genetic transformation, both Agrobacterium-mediated and
direct gene transfer in agricultural crops and trees, such as poplars,
is reviewed, and the uses of cytoplasts and miniprotoplasts in genetic
manipulation are highlighted."