Abstract
Leaf protoplasts of axenic shoot cultures of Pyrus communis L. cv. Williams' Bon Chretien (syn. Bartlett) underwent cell wall regeneration and division to give multicellular colonies in a modified Murashige and Skoog medium which lacked ammonium ions, but supplemented with 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 4-indole-3yl-acetic acid, 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and casein hydrolysate. Protoplast-derived colonies gave callus on Murashige and Skoog salts medium with NAA and BAP and exhibited shoot regeneration on half-strength Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 0.2 mg 1−1 4-indole-3yl-butyric acid, 2.0 mg 1−1 BAP, 0.2 mg 1−1 gibberellic acid, 50 mg 1−1 casein hydrolysate and 10 mg 1−1 Ca-pantothenate. Following rooting, protoplast-derived plants of pear were transferred to the glasshouse where they completed acclimatization.