Model Systems for Somatic Cell Plant Genetics

Abstract

Recent advances in culturing somatic cells of plants now makes it possible to apply the powerful techniques of microbial genetics to higher forms. These new developments include the production, culture, selective plating, regeneration, and diploidization of haploid cells, as well as protoplast formation, fusion, and uptake of exogenously supplied molecules and particles. These successes have led some to expect, optimistically, that practical uses will be forthcoming immediately. Scientists working in the field are poised between the intriguing possibilities indicated by these technical advances and the difficulties involved in their actual application. The potentialities have been, and largely are still being, explored with model systems. Currently, plant materials are chosen because they are inherently well suited, or easily genetically engineered, to yield results with a high probability of success. As the techniques are further developed and modified for use with economically important plants, it is expected that they will be used increasingly in plant improvement programs. Outstanding sources of model experimental material have been mainly the cultivated tobacco plant (Nicotiana tabacum L.), other species and hybrids of the genus Nicotiana, and other genera of the Solaneceae, such as Datura, Petunia, and Lycopersicon.