Induction and Isolation of Auxotrophic Mutants in Somatic Cell Cultures of <i>Nicotiana tabacum</i>

Abstract

A method for the selection of auxotrophic mutants from somatic cell cultures of Nicotiana tabacum depends upon the incorporation of 5-bromodeoxyuridine into the DNA of wild-type cells and upon its lack of incorporation into the DNA of auxotrophic cells. There may be more than one functional copy of essential genes in the haploid genome of Nicotiana tabacum.