Hybrid plant regeneration from interfamilial somatic hybridization between grapevine (vitia vinifera L.) and Red Thorowax (Bupleurum scorzonerifolium willd)

The protoplasts of Red Thorowax (Bupleurum scorzonerifolium) irradiated by ultraviolet light (UV) at an intensity of 260 μW/cm² for 0, 1,2 and 3 min respectively were fused with that of grapevine (Vitia vinifera). The regenerated 19 clones, every one derived from a single fused cell, were identified as hybrids by phenotype, isozyme, chromosome and 5S rDNA spacer region analysis. The results reveal that all of them are somatic hybrids. 11 hybrid calli including asymmetric and symmetric products regenerated somatic embryos and young leaves after 5 months of culture, of which 4 hybrid cell lines derived from asymmetric fusion regenerated plants with roots after 8–10 months of culture. Inspection of chromosome showed that regeneration of whole plant was related to the decrease of chromosome number. Identification of 5S rDNA spacer region of the plants confirmed that they were interfamilial hybrid plants.