GATE 2023 BT – Question 43

Plant, Animal and Microbial Biotechnology · Plants: Hairy root culture, artificial seeds, somaclonal variation, protoplast fusion, transgenic plants, marker genes, plastid transformation · 2 marks · Multiple select

Which of the following is(are) plant protoplast fusogenic agent(s)?

Sodium nitrate
Polyvinyl alcohol
Polyethylene glycol
Bromoxynil

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Correct answer: (A) Sodium nitrate; (B) Polyvinyl alcohol; (C) Polyethylene glycol

Explanation

**Protoplast fusion** needs an agent that makes the plasma membranes of neighbouring protoplasts stick together and merge.

**Sodium nitrate:** a chemical fusogen (used in early protoplast fusion). ✓
**Polyvinyl alcohol:** a fusogen that promotes agglutination. ✓
**Polyethylene glycol (PEG):** the most widely used chemical fusogen. ✓
**Bromoxynil:** a **herbicide** (a photosystem II inhibitor), not a fusogen. ✗

Answer **A, B and C**.