Somatic Hybridisation

• The process of fusion of protoplast of somatic cells obtained from different varieties or species of plant on a suitable nutrient medium in vitro to develop a somatic hybrid is called somatic hybridisation.

• It is carried out by the following steps:

i. Single cells from selected plants are isolated.

ii. The cell walls of cells are digested by enzymes like pectinase and cellulase, to expose the naked protoplasts.

iii. Naked protoplasts surrounded only by plasma membranes are isolated.

iv. The isolated protoplasts are fused to obtain hybrid protoplasts under sterile conditions in special nutrient media.

v. The hybrid protoplasts are cultured in a suitable media to form new plant.

• Pomato is an example of a somatic hybrid produced by fusion of tomato and potato protoplasts.

Uses:

i. Somaclonal variations can be created by this method.

ii. The plant which failed to produce sexual hybrid may produce somatic hybrids.

iii. Healthy plants can be recovered from diseased plants.