Dominant expression of a gene amplification-related herbicide resistance in medicago cell hybrids

Protoplasts from phosphinotricin resistant M. sativa and M. varia cell lines carrying an amplified glutamine synthethase gene were fused with leaf protoplasts of kanamycin resistant M. varia transformants. The dominant nature of both PPT and kanamycin resistant traits was shown by the double resistant phenotype of the intra- and interspecific cell hybrids obtained. The presence of amplified GS gene in the hybrid genomes and the expression of chimeric neomycin phosphotransferase II gene was detected. The highly embryogenic character of the M. varia parent was not expressed after cell fusion. All hybrid cell lines with the double resistant phenotype showed non-morphogenic growth similarly to the PPT resistant parent. The possible role of GS gene amplification and other factors in the dominant behaviour of unorganized cell growth in alfalfa somatic hybrids is discussed.