Abstract

Somatic hybridization is a mechanism for gene transfer from related species to cultivated crops, especially when wide hybridization is not applicable. Protoplast fusion resulting in the development of cybrids is known as cybridization. Interaction of plastome and genome contributes to the formation of cybrids (cytoplasmic hybrids). Cybridization has been successfully used to transfer CMS in rice and maize. It is very promising allows partial genome transfer better tolerated than whole-genome transfer. It enables transfer of genetic materials between distantly-related and sexually-incompatible species with great potential for improvement of crops. It demands less common skills and expertise, but ranks as a method yielded good results. But introgression and stable inheritance of the alien DNA carrying the desired genes have to take place. Moreover, an important factor to investigate in the future is the mechanism involved in the incorporation of donor DNA into recipient chromosomes.