Analysis of fertility in somatic hybrids of Nicotiana rustica and N. tabacum and progeny over two sexual generations

Abstract

Somatic hybrid plants, produced between Nicotiana rustica and N. tabacum by heterokaryon isolation and culture and also by mutant complementation, were examined regarding their ability to set seed. From a total of seventeen independent somatic hybrids, three were found to be partially self-fertile while the others did not set seed. Differences regarding the methods of hybrid selection, parental varieties and chloroplast composition of hybrids did not appear to be significant regarding the ability of plants to set seed. Much variation in fertility was observed in subsequent generations and by recurrent selection of the most fertile, over two generations, it was possible to increase the level of self-fertility in some of the progeny. One R2 derivative possessed approximately a tenfold higher level of self-fertility than it's somatic hybrid parent. The presence of genetic markers from both parents were observed in all progeny indicating their hybrid nature.