TITLE:
Asymmetric Somatic Plant Hybridization: Status and Applications
AUTHORS:
Lakshmanan Prabhu Shankar, Eeckhaut Tom, Deryckere Dieter, Van Bockstaele Erik, Van Huylenbroeck Johan
KEYWORDS:
Asymmetric Somatic Fusion; Genome Fragmentation; Protoplast
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.4 No.8A,
August
14,
2013
ABSTRACT: To create
asymmetric somatic hybrids, the genome of the so-called donor protoplast is
fragmented prior to protoplast fusion. As a result, only a limited amount of
the donor genome is transferred to the fusion product. This technique can
circumvent some commonly observed problems related to symmetric fusion and
offers a practical breeding tool for asexual hybridization. Genomes are
typically fragmented by irradiation, microprotoplast production or application
of metabolic inhibitors such as iodoacetamide. Irradiation and
microprotoplast production fragment the nuclear genome, whereas iodoacetamide
inactivates the cytoplasmic genome. It can therefore be used to introduce
cytoplasmic male sterility, an important practical application. For hybrid
verification and genome characterization, molecular markers and cytogenetic
techniques are applied. This review highlights and discusses progress made
during the last decade in spermatophytes asymmetric protoplast
fusion.