Somatic hybrids between Arabidopsis thaliana and cabbage (Brassica oleracea)

Abstract

Somatic hybrid plants were obtained between Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. and cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) by protoplast fusion of the parental species under polyethylene glycol (PEG). The hybrids were cultured in modified 8p liquid medium. After the transfer of micro-calli to callus development medium, and the transplanting of calli onto regeneration medium, 12.4% of calli regenerated shoots. Although most of them were regenerants of A. thaliana, two shoots revealed the hybrid characteristics. The two somatic hybrid shoots were propagated and established as hybrid plants. Both plants exhibit hybrid morphological properties, and hybridity for the nuclear triose-phosphate isomerase (Tpi) gene and the mitochondrial genome, but the chloroplast genome of both plants was identical to that of the cabbage. The hybrid plants would be useful both for the breeding of cabbage and academic studies on the function of nuclear and organellar genes of cabbage.