Genetic complementation by somatic hybridization between pantothenate- and adenine-requiring auxotrophs of Datura innoxia P. Mill.

Auxotrophic complementation was achieved by protoplast fusion between two auxotrophic cell lines of Datura innoxia P. Mill. that required either pantothenate or adenine for their growth. Protoplast fusion was induced by polyethylene glycol enriched with calcium chloride at pH 6.8. Initial culture of fusion products in nonselective conditions increased the total number of somatic hybrids finally recovered under selective conditions. In addition to the prototrophy, the somatic hybrids regained the ability to turn green and some the ability to regenerate shoots on a cytokinin-supplemented medium. Both the parental cell lines grew as pale white callus without showing any sign of organogenesis, irrespective of the type and concentration of the cytokinin used. Approximately all the parental chromosomes (176 ± 8) were retained by the hybrid cell lines.Key words: protoplast, complementation, Datura.