Intergeneric somatic hybrid production through protoplast fusion between Brassica juncea and Diplotaxis muralis

The need to transfer genetic traits from Diplotaxis muralis (2n=42) to Brassica juncea (2n=36), a major oil seed crop of the tropical world, was realised. Since the two plant types are sexually incompatible, attempts were made to evolve parasexual hybrids as the result of protoplast fusion. Protoplasts of hypocotyl-derived calli of two cultivars of B. juncea were fused with normal and γ-irradiated mesophyll protoplasts of Diplotaxis muralis. Regeneration of 110 plants from the fused products was successfully achieved. Upon analysis of some of them, we realised that true somatic hybrids and partial somatic hybrids had been generated. Thus the primary goal of evolving intergeneric hybridisation products between these two plant types was fulfilled.