Concanavalin Agglutinin Induced Adhesion of Sexual Protoplasts of Tobacco

Concanavalin agglutinin (Con A) was used to induce the adhesion of sexual protoplasts of tobacco in the present study. Results illustrated that Con A could induce the adhesion of sexual protoplasts, including central cell and central cell, central cell and egg cell, central cell and generative cell, central cell and sperm, egg cell and generative cell, egg cell and sperm cell. However, we did not observe the further fusion of the sexual protoplasts. Some factors were detected affecting adhesion efficiency, among which concentration of Con A was essential for successful adhesion. Calcium also took an active part in this process. High concentration of calcium hampered the adhesion of the sexual cells.