Production of somatic hybrids by electrofusion in Solanum

Summary Conditions are described for large scale electrofusion of mesophyll protoplasts of dihaploid S. tuberosum with those of diploid S. brevidens. Overall fusion frequencies of 20%–30% were achieved, and following fusion, large numbers of protoplast-derived calli were obtained. Putative somatic hybrid plants were selected from the regenerated shoots by examining their morphological characteristics. Twenty-one somatic hybrids were confirmed by isoenzyme analysis and six somatic hybrids were further confirmed by Southern hybridization. Tetraploid hybrids were obtained, but cytogenetic studies indicated that more of the regenerated hybrids were hexaploid than had previously been found following chemical fusion of the same partners. Some advantages of electrofusion over chemical fusion are discussed.     

Limited DNA elimination from the irradiated potato parent in fusion products of albino Lycopersicon esculentum and Solanum tuberosum

Summary This paper describes the analysis of the elimination of potato DNA from potato-tomato somatic cell hybrids. The hybrids were obtained by fusion of protoplasts of a cytoplasmic albino tomato genotype with leaf mesophyll protoplasts of a potato genotype carrying the -glucuronidase (GUS) gene of Escherichia coli. The potato protoplasts were either isolated from unirradiated plants or from plants irradiated with 50 or 500 Gy of -rays. Green calli were selected as putative fusion products. The hybridity of these calli was confirmed by isoenzyme analysis. All of the green calli tested contained a potato-specific chloroplast DNA restriction fragment, and most of the calli analysed were positive for -glucuronidase activity. In 72 of the hybrid calli we determined the percentage of potato nuclear DNA using species-specific probes. All of the tested green calli contained a considerable amount of potato genomic DNA, irrespective of the dose of irradiation of the potato parent. The limited degree of potato DNA elimination and the absence of true cybrids are discussed.     

Selection and enrichment of plant protoplast heterokaryons of Brassicaceae by flow sorting

The experimental conditions for an efficient and reproducible enrichment of fusion products by flow cytometry, using protoplasts of different Brassica species as hybridization material, have been investigated. The heterokaryons were identified by the endogenous chlorophyll autofluorescencence of mesophyll protoplasts of one parent and the fluorescense of exogenously supplied carboxyfluorescin to the hypocotyl protoplasts of the other parent. By using a low head drive frequency (11 kHz), a large nozzle (110 μm) and a low nozzle pressure (30–35 kPa) good survival of the protoplasts was obtained after sorting. Heterokaryons were sorted using these parameters and on average 80% of the protoplasts were fusion products as judged by microscopy. They were cultured in small volumes, 150 μl, and started to divide after 3–5 days and regenerated calli easily. Isozyme analysis of the calli confirmed that 81% had the pattern typical for a hybrrid. Differentiation into shoots have been obtained from some of the hybrid calli; these shoots were also confirmed to be true hybrids.     

Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses of plants produced by in vitro anther culture of Solanum chacoense Bitt

Summary Green mesophyll protoplasts of the dihaploid potato line 1982 (Solanum tuberosum L.) were fused with herbicide-bleached mesophyll protoplasts of the dihaploid potato line 679 using a polyethylene glycol protocol. Heterokaryons were identified under a fluorescence microscope using the dual fluorescence of carboxyfluorescein-stained, herbicide-bleached protoplasts and the autofluorescence of green mesophyll protoplasts. About 20% of the protoplasts survived the fusion treatment, and the fusion frequency was 3%–4%. Unfused and fused protoplasts were mass cultured for 6 weeks after which vigorously growing calli were selected and transferred to shoot regeneration medium. Somatic hybrids were identified by a combination of five isozyme markers, and the ploidy level was determined by flow cytometry. Out of 15 calli that regenerated shoots, 6 plants derived from 2 different calli were identified as hexaploid somatic hybrids, while one morphologically deviant plant from a third callus was identified as a mixoploid that had lost some enzyme markers after 4 months of culturing.     

Regeneration of asymmetric somatic hybrid plants from the fusion of two types of wheat with Russian wildrye

Two types of protoplasts of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Jinan 177) were used in fusion experiments—cha9, with a high division frequency, and 176, with a high regeneration frequency. The fusion combination of either cha9 or 176 protoplasts with Russian wildrye protoplasts failed to produce regenerated calli. When a mixture of cha9 and 176 protoplasts were fused with those of Russian wildrye, 14 fusion-derived calli were produced, of which seven differentiated into green plants and two differentiated into albinos. The morphology of all hybrid plants strongly resembled that of the parental wheat type. The hybrid nature of the cell lines was confirmed by cytological, isozyme, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) analyses. GISH analysis revealed that only chromosome fragments of Russian wildrye were transferred to the wheat chromosomes of hybrid calli and plants. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) analysis of the chloroplast genome of the hybrids with seven pairs of wheat-specific chloroplast microsatellite primers indicated that all of the cell lines had band patterns identical to wheat. Our results show that highly asymmetric somatic hybrid calli and plants can be produced via symmetric fusion in a triparental fusion system. The dominant effect of two wheat cell lines on the exclusion of Russian wildrye chromosomes is discussed.Abbreviations GISH Genome in situ hybridization - RAPD Random amplified polymorphic DNA - SCF Small chromosome fragment - SSR Simple sequence repeat     

Organellar segregation,rearrangement and recombination in protoplast fusion-derived Brassica oleracea calli

Summary Cauliflower protoplasts were fused to determine the effect of protoplast source and pretreatment on organellar segregation in fusion products. Mitochondrial and chloroplast type were determined for over 250 calli from eight fusions between iodoacetate-treated or -irradiated leaf or hypocotyl protoplasts with fertile or Ogura cytoplasms. Organelles in fusion-derived calli were identified with five mitochondrial probes and one chloroplast probe. Mitochondrial and chloroplast segregation were independent but biased. Most calli had B. oleracea chloroplasts, but more calli had Ogura mitochondria than B. oleracea ones. Neither protoplast source nor pretreatment alone affected organelle segregation. However, iodoacetate treatment of hypocotyl protoplasts reduced their mitochondrial contribution to the fusion products although it did not affect chloroplast segregation. Over half of the calli had mitochondrial genomes distinct from those of either fusion partner; many of these contained the complete mitochondrial genome of one partner along with some mitochondrial DNA from the other. Out of 258 calli, 83 showed evidence of mitochondrial recombination, most commonly by formation of a novel 11-kb PstI fragment near the atp9 region.     

Culture and fusion of pollen protoplasts of Brassica oleracea L. var. italica with haploid mesophyll protoplasts of B. rapa L. ssp. pekinensis

Hybrid callus was formed from the successful protoplast fusion between pollen protoplasts of Brassica oleracea var. italica and haploid mesophyll protoplasts of Brassica rapa. The pollen protoplast isolation frequency in broccoli was highly related to the ratio of trinucleate pollens in the male gametophyte population. Large quantities of pollen protoplasts with high vigor could be isolated, and the isolation frequency reached up to 90% in 6.0-7.0 mm long flower buds with about 94.7% trinucleate-stage pollens. Pollen protoplasts could be collected and purified by discontinuous gradient centrifugation. In 1% Na-alginate embedding culture, cell divisions were observed but no further development was found. The haploid mesophyll protoplasts were isolated from in vitro haploid plants of B. rapa. Results strongly showed the variability in culturability of mesophyll protoplasts from different haploid lines. Both pollen protoplasts and haploid mesophyll protoplasts retained a stable round shape in the designed prefusion solution with an osmotic pressure of 0.74 osmol/kg. Polyethylene glycol was used for the protoplast fusion, and 40% polyethylene glycol 4000 enabled the highest fusion frequency of about 20%. Some postfusion protoplasts showed cell divisions up to callus proliferation. Calli were screened by random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis for their hybrid character. Results revealed the existence of the hybrid calli. Some of the hybrid calli grew well with green color and shoot primordia. According to our knowledge, this is the first report about a hybrid formation between two haploid protoplasts. Potential comprehensive applications, as well as problems of this technique, are discussed.     

甘蓝型油菜与芝麻菜体的细胞杂交

为拓宽油菜育种的基因资源库, 改良油菜品种, 以甘蓝型油菜(Brassica napus)花油3号下胚轴和芝麻菜(Eruca sativa)下胚轴为材料分离制备原生质体; 然后采用PEG-高Ca2+-高pH法进行原生质体融合, 当PEG浓度为35%, 原生质体融合密度为5×105个/mL时, 融合25 min时, 融合率可达18.2%。融合后在培养密度为1×105个/mL时, 以附加1.0 mg/L 2,4-D +0.5 mg/L 6-BA+0.5 mg/L NAA+ 200 mg/L肌醇+300 mg/L水解酪蛋白的改良的KM8p为融合体培养基, 以0.1 mol/L 蔗糖+0.2 mol/L葡萄糖+0.2 mol/L甘露醇作渗透稳定剂进行液体浅层培养, 效果较好, 愈伤组织再生率最高为6.8%。将融合体再生的小愈伤组织转移至培养基(B5无机盐+0.087 mol/L蔗糖+0.2 mg/L 2, 4-D+0.5 mg/L NAA+0.2 mg/L 6-BA+ 0.5% Agar, pH 5.8)上增殖培养, 待愈伤组织长至直径为3~5 mm时, 及时将其转至分化培养基(MS无机盐+0.087 mol/L 蔗糖+0.1 mg/L IAA+0.8 mg/L 6-BA+0.8% Agar, pH 5.8)中诱导不定芽再生, 芽分化率为35.7%。当不定芽长为2~3 cm时, 将其切下转入附加0.5 mg/L IBA+0.2 mg/L 6-BA的1/2MS生根培养基中诱导生根, 14 d左右即可形成再生植株, 生根率可达88%。同时, 以紫外线(60 μW/cm2)照射芝麻菜原生质体, 进行不对称融合, 照射2 min的获得了愈伤组织和再生植株, 照射4 min的只获得愈伤组织, 而照射5 min以上的没有获得愈伤组织, 但其愈伤组织再生、增殖及植株再生均不如对称融合。从细胞学鉴定的21块杂种愈伤组织上再生出16株杂种植株。     

Somatic hybridization between selected Lycopersicon and Solanum species

Summary Mesophyll protoplasts of an interspecific Lycopersicon esculentum Mill, (tomato) x Lycopersicon pennellii hybrid plant (EP) were fused with callus-derived protoplasts of Solanum lycopersicoides Dun. using a modified PEG/DMSO procedure. The EP plant was previously transformed by Agrobacterium tumefaciens which carried the NPTII and nopaline synthase genes. Protoplasts were plated at 10⁵/ml in modified KM medium and 16 days post-fusion 25 ug/ml kanamycin was added to the culture medium. During shoot regeneration, 212 morphologically similar putative somatic hybrids were delineated visually from kanamycin resistant EP's. Forty-eight shoots, randomly selected among the 212, were further verified as somatic hybrids by their leaf phosphoglucoisomerase heterodimer isozyme pattern. However, the resulting plants were virtually pollen sterile. In a second fusion, mesophyll protoplasts of Solanum melongena (eggplant) were fused with EP callus-derived protoplasts. Using the same fusion and culture procedure, only two dark green calli were visually selected among the pale green parental EP and verified as somatic cell hybrids by several isozyme patterns. These two calli have produced only leaf primordia in one and half years on regeneration medium.Abbreviations ABA abscisic acid - BAP 6 benzylaminopurine - 2,4-D 2,4 dichlorophenoxy acetic acid - DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide - GA₃ gibberellic acid - GOT glutamate oxaloacetate - IAA indoleacetic acid - IBA indolebutyric acid - IDH isocitrate dehydrogenase - MDH malate dehydrogenase - MES morpholinoethane-sulfonic acid - PEG polyethylene glycol - 6-PGDH 6 phosphogluconate dehydrogenase - PGI phosphoglucoisomerase     

甘蓝型油菜与芝麻菜体的细胞杂交

为拓宽油菜育种的基因资源库, 改良油菜品种, 以甘蓝型油菜(Brassica napus)花油3号下胚轴和芝麻菜(Eruca sativa)下胚轴为材料分离制备原生质体; 然后采用PEG-高Ca2+-高pH法进行原生质体融合, 当PEG浓度为35%, 原生质体融合密度为5×105个/mL时, 融合25 min时, 融合率可达18.2%。融合后在培养密度为1×105个/mL时, 以附加1.0 mg/L 2,4-D +0.5 mg/L 6-BA+0.5 mg/L NAA+ 200 mg/L肌醇+300 mg/L水解酪蛋白的改良的KM8p为融合体培养基, 以0.1 mol/L 蔗糖+0.2 mol/L葡萄糖+0.2 mol/L甘露醇作渗透稳定剂进行液体浅层培养, 效果较好, 愈伤组织再生率最高为6.8%。将融合体再生的小愈伤组织转移至培养基(B5无机盐+0.087 mol/L蔗糖+0.2 mg/L 2, 4-D+0.5 mg/L NAA+0.2 mg/L 6-BA+ 0.5% Agar, pH 5.8)上增殖培养, 待愈伤组织长至直径为3~5 mm时, 及时将其转至分化培养基(MS无机盐+0.087 mol/L 蔗糖+0.1 mg/L IAA+0.8 mg/L 6-BA+0.8% Agar, pH 5.8)中诱导不定芽再生, 芽分化率为35.7%。当不定芽长为2~3 cm时, 将其切下转入附加0.5 mg/L IBA+0.2 mg/L 6-BA的1/2MS生根培养基中诱导生根, 14 d左右即可形成再生植株, 生根率可达88%。同时, 以紫外线(60 μW/cm2)照射芝麻菜原生质体, 进行不对称融合, 照射2 min的获得了愈伤组织和再生植株, 照射4 min的只获得愈伤组织, 而照射5 min以上的没有获得愈伤组织, 但其愈伤组织再生、增殖及植株再生均不如对称融合。从细胞学鉴定的21块杂种愈伤组织上再生出16株杂种植株。     

Nuclear genomic composition of asymmetric fusion products between irradiated transgenic Solanum brevidens and S. tuberosum: limited elimination of donor chromosomes and polyploidization of the recipient genome

Summary The production of asymmetric somatic hybrid calli after fusion between gamma-irradiated protoplasts from transgenic Solanum brevidens and protoplasts from S. tuberosum are reported. Transgenic (kanamycin-resistant, GUS-positive) S. brevidens plants and hairy root clones were obtained after transformation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA 1060 (pRi1855) (pBI121) and LBA 4404 (pRAL4404) (pBI121), and A. rhizogenes LBA 9402 (pRi1855) (pBI121), respectively. Leaf protoplasts isolated from the transgenic plants or root protoplasts from the hairy root clones were fused with S. tuberosum leaf protoplasts, and several calli were selected on kanamycin-containing medium. The relative nuclear DNA content of the hybrid calli was measured by flow cytometry (FCM), and the percentages of DNA of the S. brevidens and S. tuberosum genomes in the calli were determined by dot blot analysis using species-specific DNA probes. Chromosome-specific restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers were used to investigate the elimination of specific S. brevidens chromosomes in the hybrids. The combined data on FCM, dot blot and RFLP analysis revealed that 18–62% of the S. brevidens DNA was eliminated in the hybrid calli and that the RFLP marker for chromosome 7 was absent in seven out of ten calli. The absence of RFLP markers for chromosomes 5 and 11 hardly ever occurred. In most of the hybrids the ploidy level of the S. tuberosum genome had increased considerably.     

Asymmetric protoplast fusion between sweet potato and its relatives,and plant regeneration

Experiments were conducted to asymmetrically fuse protoplasts from sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam.) and its wild relativesI. trifida Don. andI. lacunosa L. Protoplasts of sweet potato were treated with iodoacetamide, whereas those ofI. trifida Don. andI. lacunosa L. were irradiated with X-rays. The asymmetric protoplast fusion was carried out by the electrofusion method and by polyethylene glycol treatment. Electrically-fused protoplasts initiated cell division, and then formed calli earlier than the polyethylene glycol-fused protoplasts. Plant regeneration occurred only in electrofused calli, suggesting that polyethylene glycol had some toxic effect on plant regeneration ability. Analysis of peroxidase isozymes confirmed the interspecific hybrid characteristics of both the fusion-derived calli and regenerated plants.     

Somatic hybridization between Lycopersicon esculentum and Lycopersicon pennellii

Summary Selection and screening methods were devised which resulted in the identification of a number of somatic hybrid callus clones following fusion of Lycopersicon esculentum protoplasts and L. pennellii suspension culture protoplasts. Visual selection for callus morphology combined with a high fusion frequency and irradiation of one parental protoplast type (¹³⁷Cs source, 1.5 Krads) resulted in selection of a callus clone population containing a high proportion of somatic hybrids. Analysis of a dimeric isozyme for the presence of a heterodimeric form was found to be satisfactory for distinguishing parental-type calli, somatic hybrid calli, and mixed calli derived from both types of unfused parental cells. No somatic hybrid calli produced shoots, although the sexual hybrid between L. esculentum and L. pennellii regenerated well under the culture conditions employed. This result suggests that the non-regenerable growth habit of the L. pennellii suspension culture was dominant in the somatic hybrid. The culture conditions described here are suitable for obtaining regenerated plants from L. esculentum mesophyll protoplasts. L. esculentum protoplast calli from fusion cultures gave rise to shoots with L. esculentum phenotype at higher frequency than calli from control unfused L. esculentum mesophyll protoplast cultures. The use of probes for species-specific organelle DNA fragments allowed identification of organelle DNA restriction fragments in digests of total DNA from small samples of individual callus clones. The callus clones analyzed either carried predominantly one parental plastid DNA type or mixtures of both types. Use of a mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) probe which distinguishes two parental mtDNA fragments revealed that the L. pennellii-specific fragment was present in all clones examined, but the L. esculentum fragment was absent or in low proportion.     

Somatic hybrid plants between the forage legumes Medicago sativa L. and Medicago arborea L.

Interspecific somatic hybrid plants were obtained by symmetrical electrofusion of mesophyll protoplasts of Medicago sativa with callus protoplasts of Medicago arborea. Somatic hybrid calli were picked manually from semi-solid culture medium after they were identified by their dual color in fluorescent light. Twelve putative hybrid calli were selected and one of them regenerated plants. The morphogenesis of the somatic hybrid calli was induced by the synthetic growth regulator 1,2 benzisoxazole-3-acetic acid. Somatic hybrid plants showed intensive genome rearrangements, as evidenced by isozyme and RFLP analysis. The morphology of somatic hybrid plants was in general intermediate between the parents. The production of hybrids by protoplast fusion between sexually incompatible Medicago species is related to the in vitro respon siveness of the parental protoplasts. The possibility of using somatic hybrid plants in alfalfa breeding is discussed.     

Regeneration of somatic hybrid plants formed between Lycopersicon esculentum and L. pennellii

Summary Somatic hybrid plants have been regenerated following polyethylene glycol mediated fusion of leaf mesophyll protoplasts from tomato and protoplasts from Lycopersicon pennellii callus. Three different cultivars of tomato were used as sources of protoplasts: Early Girl, Manapal, and UC82B. Fusions were performed between protoplasts of these tomato cultivars and protoplasts of L. pennellii, and between protoplasts of the cultivars and protoplasts of L. pennellii that had been exposed to 3 or 6 krads of gamma radiation. Somatic hybrid plants were identified on the basis of heterozygous isozyme banding patterns, and leaf and flower morphology. Somatic hybrid plants were regenerated following fusion of tomato protoplasts with either untreated or irradiated L. pennellii protoplasts. All were heterozygous for isozyme loci on five different chromosomes. Regenerated somatic hybrids showed inheritance of either or both parental chloroplast genomes, but predominantly the L. pennellii mitochondrial genome. The regenerated somatic hybrid plants exhibited reduced fertility, less than 20% viable pollen. A total of 34 somatic hybrid calli were identified. Of these, 21 regenerated shoots, and 7 produced seed following manual pollinations.     

Asymmetric somatic hybridization between tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) and gamma-irradiated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.): a quantitative analysis

We analyzed 110 asymmetric fusion products, obtained by fusion of hygromycin-resistant tomato protoplasts and gamma-irradiated kanamycin-resistant potato protoplasts that expressed -glucuronidase (GUS). The fusion products were selected for resistance to both antibiotics, and were subsequently analyzed for their shoot regeneration potential, GUS activity, expression of two potato isoenzymes, chloroplast type, total genomic DNA content, and relative genomic composition. No viable plants could be obtained and the calli were highly polypoid. All hybrids expressed GUS activity, whereas they displayed a large variation with respect to the other traits.     

Regeneration and characterization of somatic hybrids between Brassica napus and Diplotaxis harra

Stem cortex protoplasts of Brassica napus, inactivated with iodoacetate, were fused with cell suspension - derived protoplasts of Diplotaxis harra by polyethylene glycol (PEG) treatment. PEG at 15–18% (w/v) induced 5–9% heterofusions. The hybrid callus selection was based on morphology: D. harra calli were yellow and very fine, while B. napus protoplasts typically produced green, well defined calli. A number of green, large calli were selected after fusion experiments and flowering plants were regenerated from two of these callus lines. The morphological traits as well as cytological and biochemical analysis of four isoenzymes confirmed the hybrid nature of the regenerants.     

The role of irradiation dose and DNA content of somatic hybrid calli in producing asymmetric plants between an interspecific tomato hybrid and eggplant

Highly asymmetric somatic hybrid plants were obtained by PEG/DMSO fusion of gamma-irradiated mesophyll protoplasts of the kanamycin-resistant (KmR⁺) interspecific hybrid Lycopersicon esculentum x L. pennellii (EP) with mesophyll protoplasts of Solanum melongena (eggplant, E). Elimination of the EP chromosomes was obtained by irradiating the donor genome with different doses of gamma rays (100, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 Gy). The selection of somatic hybrid calli was based on kanamycin resistance; EP and E protoplasts did not divide due to the irradiation treatment and sensitivity to kanamycin, respectively. KmR⁺ calli were recovered following all irradiation doses of donor EP protoplasts. The hybrid nature of the recovered calli was confirmed by PCR amplification of the NptII gene, RAPD patterns and Southern hybridizations using potato ribosomal DNA and pTHG2 probes. Ploidy levels of calli confirmed as hybrid were further analyzed by flow cytometry. Such analyses revealed that the vast majority of hybrid calli that did not regenerate shoots were 5–9n polyploids. The three asymmetric somatic hybrid plants obtained were regenerated only from callus with a ploidy level close to 4n, and such calli occurred only when the donor EP had been exposed to 100 Gy. The amount of DNA in somatic hybrid calli, from 100-Gy exposure, was found by dot blot hybridization with the species-specific probe, pTHG2, to be equivalent with 3.1–25.8% of the tomato genome. Thus, DNA contained in 3.8–13.2 average-size tomato chromosomes was present in these hybrid calli. The asymmetric somatic hybrid plants had the eggplant morphology and were regenerated from one hybrid callus that contained an amount of tomato DNA equivalent to 6.29 average-size tomato chromosomes.     

Hybridisation experiments with protoplasts from chlorophyll-deficient mutants of some Solanaceous species

Following fusion between protoplasts from two different chlorophyll-deficient diploid mutants of Datura innoxia Mill. it was possible to select 33 green hybrid calli on agar culture medium. Half of the somatic hybrids gave rise to leaves and some to shoots. The chromosome number of 20 somatic hybrids was determined: five were tetraploid, eight hexaploid, three octoploid, and four showed an aneuploid chromosome number. After transfer of the shoots of the five tetraploid hybrids to soil they developed roots. In control experiments in which protoplasts of the two mutants were cultured either as a mixture without being treated with the fusion agent, or cultured separately, no green callus could be obtained. Similar experiments involving protoplasts from one chlorophyll-deficient mutant of Datura innoxia, on the one hand, and those from similar mutants of Nicotiana sylvestris Spegazz. et Comes and Petunia hybrida, on the other, yielded no green somatic hybrid although hybrid protoplasts could be detected.     

Comparative study of symmetric and asymmetric somatic hybridization between common wheat andHaynaldia villosa

Symmetric and asymmetric protoplast fusion between long term cell suspension-derived protoplasts ofTriticum aestivum (cv. Jinan 177) and protoplasts ofHaynaldia villosa prepared from one-year-old embryogeneric calli was performed by PEG method. In asymmetric fusion, donor calli were treated with gamma ray at a dose of 40, 60, 80 Gy (1.3 Gy/min) respectively and then used to isolate protoplasts. Results of morphological, cytological, biochemical (isozyme) and 5S rDNA spacer sequence analysis revealed that we obtained somatic hybrid lines at high frequency from both symmetric and asymmetric fusion. Hybrid plants were recovered from symmetric and low dose γ-fusion combinations. GISH (genomicin situ hybridization) analysis proved exactly the existence of both parental chromosomes and the common occurrence of several kinds of translocation between them in the hybrid clones regenerated from symmetric and asymmetric fusion. And the elimination of donor DNA in hybrid clones regenerated from asymmetric fusion combinations was found to increase with the increasing gamma doses. It is concluded that transference and recombination of nuclear DNA can be achieved effectively by symmetric and asymmetric fusion, hybrids with small fragment translocation which are valuable in plant breeding can be obtained directly by asymmetric fusion.