IMPROVED PROTOPLAST CULTURE OF BENTGRASS (AGROSTIS L) USING A MEDIUM WITH INCREASED AGAROSE CONCENTRATION

Embryogenic suspension-culture derived protoplasts of bentgrass were cultured in media solidified with different concentrations of low-melting-point agarose (Sea Plaque). A higher temperature (up to 55 degrees C) allowed bentgrass protoplasts to be mixed with a higher agarose concentration medium with no significant deleterious influence. Protoplast plating efficiencies remarkably improved by increasing agarose concentration: 2.4% agarose increased the PEs about fifteen and four fold over the conventionally used agarose level (1.2%) in Agrostis alba and A. palustris respectively.