Question

'Pomato' a hybrid of potato and tomato was produced through-

• A. Shoot tip culture
• B. Anther culture
• C. Somatic hybridization
• D. Seed culture

Hint:

Somatic hybridization is the go-to technique for overcoming sexual incompatibility between plant species. Remember 'Pomato' as the classic example of this application.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks about the technique used to create 'Pomato', a plant that combines traits of potato and tomato. These two plants belong to the same genus (Solanum) but are different species (Solanum tuberosum and Solanum lycopersicum) and cannot be cross-bred using conventional sexual hybridization.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
'Pomato' was created using a biotechnological technique called somatic hybridization.
This process involves the following steps:
Protoplasts (plant cells with their cell walls removed) are isolated from the somatic cells of both potato and tomato plants.
These protoplasts are induced to fuse together using fusogens like polyethylene glycol (PEG) or a mild electric shock.
The resulting hybrid protoplast contains the genetic material from both plants.
This hybrid protoplast is then cultured in vitro on a suitable medium to regenerate its cell wall and develop into a callus, which is then induced to form a whole new hybrid plant.
This technique allows for the creation of hybrids between sexually incompatible species.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The 'Pomato' was produced through the fusion of somatic cells, a process known as somatic hybridization.