A practical training in single plant cell technology
Are you interested in performing tissue culture technology? Do you struggle with the isolation cultivation and regeneration of protoplasts or microspores? Do you want to fuse plant cells from different genotypes? Do you want to sort plant cells and improve regeneration efficiency?
Single plant cell biotechnology is becoming the cornerstone of advanced plant breeding and tissue culture technology. Get your early ticket on the bandwagon and receive training from the experts.
Course set up
The course is organized for PhD students, Postdocs, and professional scientist from industry. It consists of two consecutive modules. You can register for either of the two, or both. The registration limit is 12 persons per module. Applicants will be selected based on a motivation letter and full payment of the registration fee.
The course starts on Sunday afternoon and ends on Friday evening. Module 1 is from Sunday till Wednesday lunch; module 2 is from Wednesday lunch till Friday. Wednesday includes a networking moment for both groups with optional social activity early afternoon. Applicants are expected to show up on time to avoid delays in executing the program. A no show will lead to potential exclusion from future training courses.
We offer an evaluation of the experimental results after completing the course. Attendees will receive an invitation to join an online session to evaluate the outcome of the cultured cells.
Registration
The registration fee includes the practical training sessions of module 1, 2 or both; a booklet with protocols and methodology; meals during lunch; and drinks during breaks. Drinks during the networking event outside of the training premises are not included.
The registration form will be shared at a later stage.
Course content
Module 1
- Isolation and culturing of protoplasts
- Enzymes and incubation conditions
- Gradient centrifugation
- Embedding protoplasts in alginate
- Protoplast fusion
- Protoplast quality and density assessment
- Preparing asymmetric fusion: UV and iodoacetate treatment
- PEG-based and electrofusion
- Protoplast cell sorting
- Lecture: flow cytometry and microchip sorting
Module 2
- Microspore isolation and induction of embryogenesis
- Flower bud selection and maceration
- Gradient centrifugation
- Microspore stress treatments
- Cell viability assessment
- Cell staining techniques
- Amphasys
- Microscopy
- Optimization of media and incubation conditions
- Lecture: Strategies to optimize media and incubation conditions