Question

Which of the following are fused in somatic hybridization involving two varieties of plants?

• A. Callus
• B. Somatic embryos
• C. Protoplasts
• D. Pollens

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Somatic hybridization is a technique in plant biology where the protoplasts of two different plant species are fused together to create a hybrid cell. This method bypasses the sexual reproduction process by directly fusing the cellular contents.

The term protoplast refers to the plant cell that has had its cell wall removed, retaining only the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, and organelles. The removal of the cell wall allows for the protoplasts to mix and merge when subjected to certain conditions.

Among the given options:

Callus: A mass of unorganized plant cells that can differentiate into various tissues but is not involved in somatic hybridization.

Somatic embryos: Differentiated structures that mimic seed development but are not a component in the initial stage of somatic hybridization.

Protoplasts: These are the actual entities that are fused during somatic hybridization.

Pollens: These are involved in sexual reproduction and not related to protoplast fusion.

Therefore, the correct answer is Protoplasts, as they play a pivotal role in the somatic hybridization process by merging cellular components from two different plant varieties, paving the way for the development of new hybrid plants.

Answer 2

Step 1: Totipotency refers to the ability of a single plant cell to develop into a whole plant. This property is unique to certain plant cells and allows for plant regeneration through methods like tissue culture.

Step 2: In totipotent cells, all genetic information required for the development of the entire plant is retained, which allows these cells to differentiate into all types of plant tissues, leading to the formation of a complete plant.

Thus, the ability to generate a whole plant from a single cell is called totipotency.

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