High frequency recovery of intergeneric fusion products of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and potato (Solanum tuberosum) by electro-mechanical selection

Abstract Leaf protoplasts of tobacco and protoplasts obtained from potato cell line cultivated in vitro were fused using a chemical fusogen. Histograms of the cellular population were established using a flow cytometer. Using a 1-parameter soft-ware, an electro-mechanical sorting device, and a 2-step selection procedure tobacco-potato fusion products were selected rapidly. The cellular populations sorted into different classes were analysed and the parameters for obtaining the optimal number of fusion products for subsequent in vitro culture determined. Using in addition the inability of the potato protoplasts to undergo repeated cell divisions we were able to obtain a cellular population where 90% of the developing cells were tobacco/potato fusion products, capable of undergoing repeated cell divisions.