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Limitation of Somatic Hybridization

There are several problems and limitations in somatic hybridization. some of which are listed below.

1. Somatic hybridization does not always produce plants that give fertile and visible seeds.
2. Regenerated plants obtained from somatic hybridization are often variable due to somaclonal variations, chromosomal elimination, organelle  segregation etc.
3. Protoplast culture is frequently associated with genetic instability.
4. Protoplast fusion between different species/ genus is easy, but the production of viable somatic hybrids is not possible in all instances.
5. Some of the somatic hybrids, particularly when produced by the fusion of taxonomically  different partners are unbalanced and not viable.

1. There are limitations in the selection methods of hybrids, as many of them are not efficient.
2. There is no certainty as regards the expression of any specific character in somatic hybridization.
3. Somatic hybridization between two diploids results in the formation of an amphidiploid which is not favourable. For this reason, haploid protoplasts are recommended in somatic hybridization.