Somatic hybridization between Solanum ochranthum and Lycopersicon esculentum

Incorporation of genes from wild species has been a major contributor to tomato improvement in recent years. Solanum ochranthum, a woody vine-like tomato relative, is a potential source of resistance against tomato diseases and insect pests but is genetically isolated from tomato. Somatic hybridization methods were developed to facilitate the use of S. ochranthum for tomato germplasm improvement. Leaf mesophyll protoplasts of S. ochranthum and selected Lycopersicon esculentum genotypes were chemically fused with polyethylene glycol. The protoplasts were initially cultured in Shepard's CL, a Murashige and Skoog-based medium, containing 1 mg l^-1 NAA, 0.5 mg l^-1 N⁶-benzyladenine and 0.5 mg l^-1 2,4-dichlorophenony-acetic acid. Tetraploid and hexaploid hybrid regenerants and regenerants of an L. esculentum parent were recovered; S. ochranthum did not regenerate. Hybridity was established by morphological characters, peroxidase isozyme and RAPD markers.Abbreviations MS Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium - CL Shepard (1980) cell layer medium - 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - BAP N⁶-benzyladenine - MES 2-N-morpholinoethanesulfonic acid - PEG polyethylene glycol - RAPD randomly amplified polymorphic DNA - PPM potato propagation medium - TPM tomato propagation medium - OM modified Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium - OM + AC modified Murashige & Skoog (1962) medium + activated charcoal