Question

Arrange the steps of somatic hybridisation in the correct order.

• A. Select hybrids
• B. Induce cell wall
• C. Degrade cellwall
• D. Fuse protoplast
• E. Callus

Answer 1

In somatic hybridisation, single cells are isolated from parent plants and their cell walls are degraded using enzymes such as pectinase, cellulase, etc to isolate their protoplasts. The protoplasts from each parent is then fused using electrofusion or PEG fusion. The heterokaryon is then selected and cell wall formation is induced in them using plant growth hormones. These are then grown to form callus and to regenerate the whole plant using tissue culture techniques.