THE CYTOLOGY OF LYCOPERSICON SOMATIC HYBRIDS

Two somatic hybrids resulting from the fusion of one diploid protoplast of Lycopersicon esculentum, cultivar Ailsa Craig, (2n = 2x = 24) and two diploid protoplasts of Lycopersicon peruvianum (2 x (2n = 2x = 24)) have a stable mitosis and a chromosome complement of 6n = 6x = 72. There is no evidence of gross changes having occurred in the chromosome material. Multivalent formation at meiosis suggests that there is residual homology between the chromosomes of the parental species. Nevertheless, bivalent formation is high, considering that each complement contains four homologues of each of the twelve L. peruvianum chromosomes. Although the two hybrids are derived from the same parents, differences between them do occur, in both reproductive and developmental processes.