Question

Assertion (A): Isolated single cells can be fused to produce somatic hybrids.
Reason (R): Cells selected for somatic hybridisation have desirable characters.

• A. ( \text{Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).} )
• B. ( \text{Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).} )
• C. ( \text{Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.} )
• D. ( \text{Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.} )

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Assertion is true. Somatic hybridization is a process in which protoplasts of isolated somatic cells from two different plant varieties or species are fused together to obtain a hybrid protoplast, which can then be cultured to regenerate a somatic hybrid plant. Reason (R) is also true. In somatic hybridization experiments, cells with desirable characters (such as disease resistance, herbicide tolerance, etc.) are often selected as the parental cells for fusion. The aim is to combine these desirable traits in the somatic hybrid. However, Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion . The fact that isolated single cells with desirable characters are chosen for fusion does not directly explain the process of fusing these cells to produce somatic hybrids. The fusion process itself is facilitated by fusogens like PEG or electrofusion, and the selection of cells with desirable characters is a separate step in the overall somatic hybridization technique.