Plant Protoplast Fusion

It is now possible to regenerate plants from protoplasts of a wide range of species. As a result, genetic manipulation by protoplast fusion in vitro is now a realistic proposition. This area is exciting because protoplasts from different origins can be fused together to form new genome combinations that cannot be obtained by conventional means. Thus, protoplast fusion can be used to introduce novel germplasm into breeding programs. Practical examples include the introduction of resistance to potato leaf roll virus from the wild species Solarium brevidens by fusion with dihaploid potato (Solatium tuberosum ) protoplasts (1 ) and the production of novel hybrids between tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum ) and the sexually incompatible wild species (Solarium rickii ) (2 ).