Creation of hybrid vigor through nuclear transplantation in Phytophthora

When isolated nuclei of a diploid oomycete, Phytophthora parasitica, were fused with protoplasts of another strain of the same species, the regenerated nuclear hybrids grew faster than the parental isolates. Such a phenomenon did not occur in hybrids regenerated from mitochondrion-protoplast or protoplast-protoplast fusion products between these two strains. These results indicate that hybrid vigor is the result of the interaction between two different kinds of nuclei, but not between mitochondria, and they suggest that the presence of mitochondria from nuclear donor cells represses the expression of increased vigor. The nuclear hybrids also expressed increased fungicide resistance and propagule production. Increased vigor in growth was also observed in the interspecific nuclear hybrids when isolated nuclei of P. parasitica were transferred into protoplasts of Phytophthora capsici, and vice versa. This phenomenon may have potential applications, such as the creation of superior fungal strains and plant cultivars with improved commercial traits for usage in industry and agriculture.