Question

What do you understand by protoplast fusion ? Discuss its advantage citing one example.

Answer 1

Protoplast fusion is a physical phenomenon. During fusion, two or more protoplasts come in contact and adhere with one another either spontaneously or in presence of fusion induc­ing chemicals. After adhesion, membranes of protoplasts fuse in some localised areas and, eventually, the cytoplasm of the two protoplasts intermingle. The introduction of resistance to potato leaf roll virus from the wild species Solarium brevidens by fusion with dihaploid potato (Solanum tuberosum) protoplasts proves that protoplast fusion can be used to produce disease resistant crops.