In order to broaden Chinese cabbage gene pool, we conducted interspecific somatic hybridization between Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris, 2n=20, AA) and Cabbage (B. oleracea, 2n=18, CC). Protoplasts were isolated from 10-day-old cotyledons and hypocotyls of young seedlings, and fused by 40% polyethylene glycol (PEG). Fused cells were cultured in modified K8p liquid medium supplemented with some plant growth regulators. Fusion products were characterized by their morphological, cytological and molecular biological traits. The results showed that, a total of 35 regenerated green plants were obtained from 320 calli, the plant regeneration frequency was 10.94%, and eleven of which were survived in greenhouse. All regenerants were true hybrids as confirmed by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) analysis. Ploidy levels of hybrid plants were determined by chromosome counting and flow cytometry. The sum of the chromosome number (2n = 38) from the two fusion patents were found in 36.4% of regeneratns; another 36.4% had chromosomes range to 58-60; 27.2% had more chromosomes ranges to 70-76. All regenerated plants produced normal flowers. We investigated the pollen fertility and seed set after self-pollination and backcrossing with the parental species. For hybrids with chromosomes more than 38 it was possible to obtain some seeds when they after self-pollination. Within the group of hybrids with 38 chromosomes, seed set were very variable, only 0.11 seeds per pod by self-pollination, 0.23-0.76 by open-pollination, 0.02-0.04 by backcrossing with Chinese cabbage. Progeny lines obtained by self-pollination had larger leaves and leaf shapes intermediate of the parental species. Pollen fertility was gradually recovered in the first and second progenies. The backcrossing progeny lines, as a whole, exhibited morphologies were similar to Chinese cabbage. Morphological variations were observed among the somatic hybrids and their progenies.
Brassica napus ; genetics ; growth & development ; Breeding ; Chromosomes, Plant ; Hybridization, Genetic ; genetics ; Mustard Plant ; genetics ; growth & development ; Plant Somatic Embryogenesis Techniques ; Ploidies ; Pollen ; physiology ; Protoplasts ; cytology ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique ; Recombination, Genetic

In order to produce interspecific somatic hybrids between Brassica campestris (2n = 20, AA) and Brassica oleracea (2n = 18, CC), we isolated protoplasts from cotyledons and hypocotyls of young seedlings, and fused by 40% polyethylene glycol (PEG). Fused cells were cultured in modified K8p liquid medium supplemented with 0.2 mg/L 2,4-dichorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) +0.5 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA)+0.1 mg/L naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA)+ 0.1 mg/L Kinetin (Kin), 0.3 mol/L sucrose and 0.3 mol/L glucose were used as osmoticum. At the eight-to ten-cell stage, divided cells were transferred to Kao's basal medium supplemented with 0.3 mol/L sucrose as carbon source and 0.1% agarose, 2 mg/L 6-BA+ 2 mg/L Zeatin (ZEA)+1 mg/L NAA+ 0.5 mg/L Kin for callus induction. After 35 days, when small calli reached 2-3 mm in diameter, calli were transferred to regeneration medium containing 5 mg/L Zeatin (ZEA) and 2 mg/L indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). After the length of the shoots reached 1-2 cm, the shoots were transferred to 1/2 MS+0.2 mg/L NAA for root induction. Morphological, cytological and molecular biological analysis methods were used for identification of somatic hybrids. The results showed that, the first cell division occurred during 2-7 days of culture. Five weeks after culture initiation, the plating efficiency attained 0.66%. Finally, the shoot regeneration frequency was 3.7%. A total of eleven regenerated plants were obtained and verified as somatic hybrids by morphological observation and flow cytometry. Cytological studies showed that all tested plants had a chromosome number of 38, the sum of both parents. Hybridity was also confirmed by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) analysis, indicating that these regenerated plants were all true hybrids of B. campestris and B. oleracea. All amphidiploid somatic hybrids showed low pollen fertility. Pollen fertility was gradually recovered in the first and second progenies.
Brassica ; genetics ; growth & development ; physiology ; Breeding ; methods ; Genes, Plant ; Hybridization, Genetic ; genetics ; Protoplasts ; physiology ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique