ANALYSIS OF VIABILITY AND CELL-TYPES OF MACROALGAL PROTOPLASTS USING FLOW-CYTOMETRY

The ability to rapidly distinguish viable sub-populations of cells wit hin populations of macroalgal protoplast isolations was demonstrated u sing flow cytometry. Viable protoplasts from Ulva sp. and Porphyra per forata J. Ag. were distinguished from non-viable protoplasts based on differential fluorescein accumulation. The identities of cortical and epidermal protoplasts from Macrocystis pyrifera (L.) C. Ag. were infer red based on light-scattering and chlorophyll a autofluorescence. Thre e cell types could be distinguished among protoplasts released from th alli of P. perforata based on chlorophyll a and phycoerythrin autofluo rescence. Mixed protoplast populations of Ulva sp. and P. perforata we re also discernable based on relative chlorophyll a and phycoerythrin autofluorescence. The ability to screen heterogenous protoplast popula tions rapidly, combined with the cell sorting capabilities of many flo w cytometers, should prove valuable for seaweed biotechnology.