Protoplast fusion

A breeding shortcut in which the naked cells of two different strains, species, or even genera are fused to create hybrids that sexual crossing could never produce. Stripping away cell walls with enzymes lets the protoplasts merge, pooling genetic traits into a single novel cell line. Biotechnologists have used it to combine desirable fermentation characteristics in yeasts and bacteria and to transfer traits between plant species. Regulatory and stability questions attend the resulting hybrids, but the technique remains a powerful tool for strain improvement.