Enabling High-throughput Transgene Expression Studies Using Automated Liquid Handling for Etiolated Maize Leaf Protoplasts

The field of plant biotechnology has witnessed remarkable advancements in recent years, revolutionizing the ability to manipulate and engineer plants for various purposes. However, as research in this field increases in diversity and becomes increasingly sophisticated, the need for early, efficient, dependable, and high-throughput transient screening solutions to narrow down strategies proceeding to stable transformation is more apparent. One method that has re-emerged in recent years is the utilization of plant protoplast, for which methods of isolation and transfection are available in numerous species, tissues, and developmental stages. This work describes a simple automated protocol for the randomized preparation of plasmid within a 96-well plate, a method for the isolation of etiolated maize leaf protoplast, and an automated transfection procedure. The adoption of automated solutions in plant biotechnology, exemplified by these novel liquid handling protocols for plant protoplast transfection, represents a significant advancement over manual methods. By leveraging automation, researchers can easily overcome the limitations of traditional methods, enhance efficiency, and accelerate scientific progress.