Analysis of chromosome, mtDNA and cpDNA patterns in five somatic hybrids between Brassica alboglabra Bailey and Brassica campestris L.

Summary Somatic hybrids between Brassica alboglabra (CC) and B. campestris (AA) were produced through protoplast fusion. Hybrids of this combination have already been produced through sexual crosses and among other traits in the offspring, a CMS of ogura type was discovered. The reason for generating somatic hybrids was to create new nuclear-cytoplasmic combinations and/or cytoplasmic variants, which could be exploited in combination with the sexual hybrids. Mitosis and meiosis were studied and all hybrids were found to be of the AACCCC genomic constitution. The fusion of somatic cells resulted in altered cytoplasmic genomes.