PROTOPLAST AS A TOOL TO ADDRESS QUESTIONS IN PLANT PHYSIOLOGY

A protoplast is a plant cell from which the cell wall has been removed by enzyme treatment. Tremendous utilization of protoplast in molecular analysis of plant growth and development has been observed in the past decades and the system has paved its way to significantly facilitate the comprehensive understanding of the complexity of underlying mechanisms. However, it should be kept in mind that a plant, like all systems, is composed of networks of interdependent components that integrate the system into a unified whole. In this mini review, we will re-explore protoplast approach in answering plant physiology questions through discussion of its application in the study of (1) photosynthesis and chloroplast-related process; (2) pollen tube growth; (3) sieve tube element protoplast for long distance translocation; (4) new regulatory metabolites from guard cell protoplast. This in vitro approach may open the way to further meaningful results at organismal level.