Induction of reproductive differentiation in vegetative somatic plant cells, and methods and cells thereof
AssigneeUniversity of Vermont and State Agricultural College
InventorsPhilip M. LINTILHAC, Matthew GRASSO
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to an in vitro method of inducing reproductive differentiation in a vegetative somatic plant cell. This method involves applying mechanical stress and directional force to a vegetative somatic plant cell encapsulated in a polymer material to induce reproductive differentiation in the somatic plant cell. Also disclosed are plant cells and methods and cells thereof.
Claims31
An in vitro method of inducing reproductive differentiation in a vegetative somatic plant cell, said method comprising:
- applying mechanical stress and directional force to a vegetative somatic plant cell encapsulated in a polymer material to induce reproductive differentiation in the somatic plant cell.
The method according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said applying mechanical stress and directional force is carried out by inducing changes in physical properties of the polymer material.
The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the polymer material is physically responsive to external signals or forces to create the mechanical stress and directional force.
The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the polymer material is capable of shrink/swell movement to create the mechanical stress and directional force.
The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mechanical stress and directional force comprise isotropic tension and/or compression.
The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vegetative somatic plant cell is one of a central cluster of cells, and said method is carried out to induce reproductive differentiation in the cells of the cluster.
The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said applying mechanical stress and directional force is insensitive to environmental fluctuations.
A reproductive, germ-line plant cell produced by the method of any one of the preceding claims.
A polymer microsphere comprising a polymer material comprising an encapsulated living meiotic germ-line plant cell.
A method of double encapsulating a plant protoplast, said method comprising:
- encapsulating a protoplast with agarose to form an agarose microsphere comprising the protoplast;
- encapsulating the agarose microsphere in alginate methacrylate to form an encapsulated agarose microsphere, wherein the protoplast is encapsulated in both the agarose and the alginate methacrylate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.