Biopolymers and cell. 2000; 16 (4): 289 - 296

Potato cytoplasm reconstruction by chloroplast transfer from a wild Solatium species and regeneration of cybrid plants

D. P. Yevtuskenko, A. M. Shakhovsky, V. A. Sidorov

Protoplast fusion was used to transfer Solatium microdontum Bitt. chloroplasts into chlorophyll-deficient plastome mutant of S. tuberosum L. and produce potato cybrid plants with alien organelles. The selection procedure was based on restoration of photosynthetic ability in the cybrid colonies growing onto a nutrient medium with low level of carbon sources. Chromosome counting, isozyme analyses for esterase and restriction analysis of chDNA revealed the presence of S. microdontum Bitt. plastids and potato nuclei in the fusion-derived cybrids. Phenotype of the cybrid plants was similar to the cultivated potato. Nuclear-organelle compatibility of the potato cybrids provides potential for improvement of S. tuberosum L. genotype.