Somatic hybridization between nicotiana rustica and nicotiana tabacum 2. protoplast fusion and selection and regeneration of hybrid plants
Douglas, G.C.; Keller, W.A.; Setterfield, G.
Canadian Journal of Botany 59(2): 220-227
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-4026 Accession: 006437494
Protoplasts derived from cell suspensions of chlorophyll-deficient N. rustica L. cv. Chlorotica and albino N. tabacum L. were fused by a polyethylene glycol (PEG) treatment. As early as 17 days after fusion bright green cell colonies appeared as a result of genetic complementation for chlorophyll synthesis in the hybrid cells only. For optimal hybrid production a low Ca level (1.05 mM) was essential in the PEG solution. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at optimal concentration (2% vol/vol) when used with PEG increased the frequency of hybrid production over PEG alone. Temperature was not a critical factor in PEG-induced fusion except that where DMSO was used in conjunction with PEG, temperatures of 25.degree. C or greater were optimal. Over 65% of the hybrid cell colonies could be induced to undergo shoot morphogenesis on osmoticum-free (Nagata and Takebe) medium with 1.0 mg/l benzyladenine + 0.05 mg/l naphthaleneacetic acid and 1% sucrose. Under these conditions glucose (0.175-0.35 M) depressed morphogenesis. A number of physiological and environmental conditions were tested to elicit root formation in hybrid shoots but these failed to enhance the frequency of rooting obtained with hormone-free medium. Somatic hybrid plants of N. rustica and N. tabacum were produced, bypassing sexual incompatibility mechanisms which partially isolate these species.