Somatic hybridisation of Daucus carota and D. capillifolius by protoplast fusion.

Protoplasts isolated from cultured cells of albino carrot (Daucus carota) and normal green D. capillifolius were fused by polyethylene glycol. Selection of somatic hybrid plants was based on the restoration of photosynthetic function in hybrids. Green plantlets selected from embryo cultures were characterized on the basis of leaf morphology. The interspecific protoplast fusion resulted in green plants with leaves which were intermediate between those of the parents. The somatic hybrids between orange rooted carrot variety and D. capillifolius with long white roots produced long, white and fleshy roots. The cytological analysis of parasexual hybrids revealed that the chromosome number ranged from 34 to 54. The most frequent chromosome number was 2n = 36. Hybrids were also found with 34 and 35 chromosomes. The somatic hybrid showed the same isoenzyme pattern of leaf peroxidase as D. carota.