Production of somatic hybrid plants between cabbage and chinese cabbage through protoplast fusion.

Protoplasts from leaf mesophyll cells of cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) and chinese cabbage (B. catnpestris L.) were fused by dextran. Calli exhibiting vigorous growth were selected from the dextran treated protoplasts and plants were regenerated from them after about 3 months of culture. The data of plant and leaf morphology, chromosome number and acid phosphatase isozyme patterns indicate that these plants are interspecific hybrids. This is the first example of production of somatic hybrids between heading type vegetables.