Somatic Cell Hybridization in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) and Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.)

Abstract

Asymmetric somatic hybrid calli of birdsfoot trefoil and rice were produced by protoplast fusion, and analyzed for their mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNAs) and chloroplast DNAS (CpDNAS) by the method of Southern hybridization. Novel mtDNA fragments were detected in one hybrid callus line, indicating that some kinds of mtDNA alterations occurred in the hybrid calli. On the other hand, the cpDNA fragment patterns of all the hybrid callus lines were found to be identical with those of birdsfoot trefoil. Therefore, it is suggested that the cpDNAs of these hybrid calli were segregated unidirectionally. Interestingly, some regenerated plants from the hybrid calli were tolerant to low temperatures and low sunlight intensity.