Enzymes used to remove the physical barriers of somatic hybridization are

Options

A. Cellulase and pectinase
B. Chitinase and cellulose
C. Amylase and pectinase
D. Protease and pectinase

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Somatic Hybridization:**
- Somatic hybridization is a technique that involves the fusion of protoplasts (the living part of a cell) from two different plant species or varieties. This process allows for the combination of genetic material from both plants to create a hybrid.

2. **Identifying Physical Barriers:**
- In plant cells, the primary physical barriers that prevent the fusion of protoplasts are the cell wall and cell membrane. The cell wall is composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin.

3. **Removing Physical Barriers:**
- To achieve somatic hybridization, these physical barriers must be removed. This is done by digesting the cell wall components.

4. **Enzymes Used for Digestion:**
- The specific enzymes used to digest the components of the cell wall are:
- **Cellulase:** This enzyme breaks down cellulose, which is a major component of the plant cell wall.
- **Pectinase:** This enzyme breaks down pectin, another important component of the cell wall.

5. **Conclusion:**
- Therefore, the enzymes used to remove the physical barriers of somatic hybridization are **cellulase** and **pectinase**.

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