Production of Nicotiana tabacum x Nicotiana acuminata hybrid by ovule culture.

Using a conventional sexual crossing technique, Nicotiana tabacum x N. acuminata was not produced. After the fertilized ovules were cultured for 20 days in a liquid Nitsch H medium, germination was observed. The roots grew rapidly but leaves did not. However, plantlets were produced in an H medium containing Benzyladenine or Kinetin (0.01-0.1 mg/l). The plantlets grew and flowered in a greenhouse. The chromosome number of the hybrid was 36 and its morphological characteristics were intermediate between those of parental species.