Question

Write a short note on somatic hybrids.

Answer 1

Somatic hybrids are plants produced by the fusion of protoplasts from two different parent plants, often from different species. This fusion bypasses sexual incompatibility. Steps include isolating protoplasts, fusing them using chemicals like polyethylene glycol or by electrofusion, regenerating cell walls, nuclear fusion, and growing hybrid cells into mature plants. Somatic hybrids enable combining traits like disease resistance and herbicide tolerance from unrelated species in plant breeding. However, regenerating plants from fused cells remains a challenge.