Intergeneric gene transfer mediated by plant protoplast fusion

Summary In attempts at somatic transfer of plant genomes of reduced size, X-irradiated leaf protoplasts of parsley (Petroselinum hortense, 2n=22) were fused with cell culture protoplasts of a nuclear albino mutant of carrot (Daucus carota, 2n=18). Introduction of genes from the irradiated parsley nuclei into the carrot genome was shown by the correction of the albino defect and by the appearance of parsley isoenzymes in selected green tissues and plants. The cytological studies provided information on significant deviation from the amphidiploid chromosome number. The high frequency of cells with 2n=19, 2n=38 and regeneration of plants with 2n=19 chromosomes can indicate that the elimination of parsley chromosomes is incomplete. A correlation was found between the lethality of selected tissues and differentiated or undifferentiated stages of the cells.