Q. Bomato is a somatic hybrid between :
(a) Brinjal and Tomato
(b) Beet root and potato
(c) Bean and Tomato
(d) Bean and Potato
Solution : Correct option : A Hundreds of in vitro studies have been implemented on somatic hybridization on different plant species. Through a fusion of protoplast, the parent genes may combine to other species and develop resistance to several plant disease-producing factors like bacteria, fungi, virus, pests, herbicides, stress factors etc. to protect the plant. The sexual incompatibility of one species may also be recovered through this technique. Somatic hybridization can be achieved in two ways –
1. Inter-specific fusion and
2. Inter-generic fusion. Interspecific hybridization refers to a cross between two different species of the same genus. For example – a fusion between brinjal (Solanum melongena) and tomato (So Solanum lycopersicum) is called bomato. On the contrary, intergeneric hybridization refers to the cross between two different genera under the same family. A hybrid between two cacti of the genus Ferocactus and the genus Leuchtembergia is the example of intergeneric hybridization.