Abstract
Plant protoplasts can be fused and the fusion products cultured to produce somatic hybrid plants. This technique has been used to produce germplasm previously unavailable to the plant breeder. Several researchers have emphasized production of hybrids between distantly related, sexually incompatible species, but many of these hybrids are sterile, precluding incorporation into a breeding program. Hence, to transfer traits such as disease and herbicide resistance, emphasis has shifted to production of hybrids between more closely related species. Novel variation has been observed in such somatic hybrids due to segregation of mixed organelles, cytoplasmic and nuclear gene recombination, and somaclonal variation. The unique gene combinations made possible by protoplast fusion ensure that new plant varieties will soon be derived from somatic hybridization.
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