Developments in protoplast fusion in fungi.

Protoplasts have proved to be valuable tools in fungal genetics. Removal of the cell wall is clearly very significant because this organelle has an important role in cell-cell interactions. Using the molecular 'glue' polyethylene glycol or electrofusion methods, protoplasts can be fused in intraspecies and interspecies and intergeneric combinations. The technique has therefore opened up an important new area of study which has both fundamental and applied importance.