The chemical composition of somatic hybrids between Nicotiana tabacum and N. debneyi

Abstract

The chemical composition of somatic hybrids resulting from six separate fusion events involving Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana debneyi was examined in relation to that of the parental species. Nonvolatile organic acids, fatty acids, phenolic constituents, plastid pigments, tobacco alkaloids, solanesol, and individual cembranes and paraffins of the surface waxes were determined in green tissue from field grown plants. The chemical composition of the individual somatic hybrids was often intermediate between the two species; however, there were instances where the concentration of individual constituents was similar to one of the species, or where concentrations were in excess of either parental species. Given the importance of leaf quality to the value of a tobacco crop, careful attention to chemical constituents during backcrossing and introgression is advocated.Key words: Somatic hybrids, Nicotiana tabacum, Nicotiana debneyi, tobacco chemistry