Studies on the behavior of meiotic protoplasts

Abstract

Meiotic protoplasts obtained from lily microsporocytes in late prophase to telophase I were cultured in an enzyme solution which prevents formation of a cell wall around the protoplsts. The removal of the surface wall interfered with nuclear and cell division when the wall was removed prior to metaphase. The main effects were non-segregation of chromosomes and aberrant cytokinesis. In contrast, the absence of a cell wall during the later periods in which actual segregation of the nucleus and cytoplasm takes place did not interfere with the spindle function. The regular process was accomplished through the formation of a cell plate or septum, and 2 hemispheric daughter protoplasts were formed. After that, a furrow was usually formed at the septum in the absence of a surrounding cell wall, and the protoplasts became dumbbell shaped. Some abnormal behavior was also observed using the time lapse technique.