Cytological behaviour of the somatic hybrids Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa + P. cincinnata

Abstract

Meiosis and pollen viability of interspecific somatic hybrids, i.e. Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa, the yellow passion fruit + P. cincinnata, a wild species, were examined and compared with their corresponding diploid fusion parents. Firstly, the cybrid nature of these hybrids was confirmed by leaf-stomatal measurements and RFLP analyses using four mitochondrial genes as probes. The meiotic behaviour revealed relatively high stability, with most of the hybrid cells showing 18 bivalents. Some instability, such as a quadrivalent configuration was also recorded which has been interpreted as an interchange that occurred in the progenitors more than as a result of in vitro culture or chromosome reorganization in the new genome. Even in low frequencies, the occurrence of univalents resulted in mis-division, laggard and micronucleus formation. High values of pollen viability (>70%) were found in the diploid parents as well as in the hybrid plants. The results are discussed in relation to the possibilities of applying somatic hybridization for improving passion fruit varieties.