Periclinal chimeras as a strategy for cultivar development

This review summarizes current knowledge on the synthesis, characterization and utilization of interspecific chimeras. Results are also generally relevant to intraspecies chimeras as well. Plant chimera is a type of mosaic in which genetically different tissues develop side by side. Essential components targeted for improvement include chimera induction, selection efficiency, histogen identification, characterization, and stabilization. This chapter reviews the interspecific chimeras with emphasis on species of the Brassicaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Rutaceae, and Solanaceae. The recovery of periclinal chimeras in which tissue from different interspecific or intergeneric origins is combined in a single clonal plant, has potential for crop improvement