Logo
 Home | Sitemap | Contact us | Search | Language
Left Right
Home >> Plant Biotechnology and Genomics >>Construction of Molecular Maps and Synteny (Collinearity) >>Identification of Somatic Hybrids

Identification of somatic hybrids
One of the problems in production of somatic hybrids, often, is lack of appropriate methods for identification of these hybrids among the developing regenerants Some of the methods traditionally used, include the following: (i) combining light bleached protoplasts with green leaf mesophyll protoplasts, followed by manual isolation of heterokaryons; (ii) genetic complementation of auxotrophic mutants; (iii) fusion of different antibiotic ­and/or herbicide - resistant lines derived by plant transformation and (iv) use of hybrid vigour, isozymes, proteins, etc. These methods, however, are time consuming and costly.

Molecular markers can be utilized for the same purpose, where a small DNA sample from developing regenerant can be used to determine hybridity. In case of PCR-based markers (RAPDs, SSRs, etc.) primers may be used which give polymorphic PCR products from each of the parents involved in fusion, so that the hybrids can be identified by the presence of molecular profiles, which represented a combination of the profiles of the two parents. This has been achieved successfully in several cases including potato and the approach will certainly be utilized in future for identification of somatic hybrids in a variety of plant materials.

 

Left Right