Question

During somatic hybridisation in plants

• A. Somaclones are produced in large numbers
• B. Apical meristems are cultured to get virus-free plants
• C. Cell walls and middle lamella are digested before fusing the cells
• D. Crop plants with higher levels of vitamins, proteins and minerals are hybridised
  

Answer 1

The correct option is C Cell walls and middle lamella are digested before fusing the cells

Somatic hybridisation
Somatic hybridisation is a process of developing hybrid plants by the fusion of protoplasts of two plant cells belonging to different species which generates a hybrid protoplast with desired characteristics. This plant cell can be developed into a hybrid plant by tissue culture method.

Steps in somatic hybridisation :
● Isolation of desired protoplasts
● Fusion of desired protoplasts
● Protoplast culture
● Regeneration of the plantlets

Isolation of desired protoplasts
Isolation of desired protoplasts is done by digesting the cell wall with the digestive enzymes like pectinase,cellulase and hemicellulase. Thus this step is mandatory.