Explain what is meant by somatic hybridization (protoplast fusion), and state one reason it is useful in crop improvement when sexual hybridization between two species is not possible.

Question

Accepted Answer

Somatic hybridization (protoplast fusion) is the fusion of protoplasts -- plant cells whose rigid cellulose wall has been enzymatically digested away, leaving only the cell membrane -- taken from the somatic (body) cells of two different parent plants. The two protoplasts are brought together and induced to fuse, typically using polyethylene glycol or a brief electric pulse, producing a single hybrid cell carrying the combined genetic material of both parents; this cell is then cultured, regenerates a cell wall, forms a callus, and eventually regenerates into a complete somatic hybrid plant. It is especially useful when the two parent plants belong to different species or genera that are too distantly related for their pollen and egg cells to fuse and produce viable seed through ordinary sexual hybridization -- somatic hybridization bypasses this sexual-com …

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Same / Similar Concept — real previous-year questions on the same or a closely similar concept, not this exact question.

CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
$Q. Match List - I with List - II : List - I$
(1) Sterilization of culture room
(2) Fusion of protoplast
(3) Solidifying agent
(4) Isolation of protoplast List - II
(i) Macerozyme
(ii) Ethanol
(iii) Agar
(iv) Polyethylene Glycol
(a) (1)-(ii), (2)-(iv), (3)-(iii), (4)-(i)
(b) (1)-(i), (2)-(iv), (3)-(iii), (4)-(ii)
(c) (1)-(iv), (2)-(iii), (3)-(ii), (4)-(i)
(d) (1)-(i), (2)-(ii), (3)-(iii), (4)-(iv)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Matching gives Sterilization of culture room-Ethanol, Fusion of protoplast-PEG, Solidifying agent-Agar, Isolation of protoplast-Macerozyme, which is option (a).

Working

Each List-I item is matched to its correct List-II reagent based on its standard use in plant tissue culture:

Sterilization of the culture room: the walls, floor and working surfaces of the culture room/laminar air-flow cabinet are routinely wiped down with Ethanol (commonly 70% ethanol) as a quick, effective surface disinfectant -- matches (ii).

Fusion of protoplast: two isolated protoplasts (from the same or different species) are chemically induced to fuse together using Polyethylene Glycol (PEG), which destabilises their cell membranes enough to allow fusion (used in somatic hybridisation) -- matches (iv). …
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CBSE 2018Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
$Q. The two protoplasts are fused with a fusogen called :$
(a) polyethane glycol
(b) polyethylene glycol
(c) phosphoric ethane
(d) polyvinyl chloride
›Reveal solutionSolution

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is the chemical fusogen commonly used to fuse plant protoplasts.

Somatic hybridisation in plant tissue culture begins with the enzymatic removal of the cell wall (using cellulase and pectinase) to obtain naked protoplasts from the two parental sources. To bring about fusion of their plasma membranes, a fusion-inducing agent (fusogen) is required. Polyethylene glycol (PEG), typically used at high molecular weight and concentration in the presence of calcium ions at high pH, causes localised destabilisation and agglutination of the protoplast membranes, allowing adjacent protoplasts to fuse and form a heterokaryon that can then develop into a hybrid cell. (Electrofusion, using an electric …

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Q.Explain what is meant by somatic hybridization (protoplast fusion), and state one reason it is useful in crop improvement when sexual hybridization between two species is not possible.

Concept understanding — Protoplast Culture and Fusion

Q.Explain what is meant by somatic hybridization (protoplast fusion), and state one reason it is useful in crop improvement when sexual hybridization between two species is not possible.

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