Name: Apomixis and Polyembryony
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 7 min 23 s
Description: Apomixis and polyembryony are unusual forms of reproduction that allow seed formation, for continuity of life, without genetic shuffling. Do you want to know...

Question

Are parthenocarpy and apomixis different phenomena? Discuss their benefits.

Accepted Answer

Parthenocarpy is the method to produce fruits from ovary without fertilisation. Thus, the parthenocarpic fruits are the seedless fruits. Apomixis is the formation of seed without fertilisation. Hence, apomixis and parthenocarpy are different phenomena. Since both types of phenomena do not involve fertilisation, thus, they can be used as asexual methods or vegetative propagation methods.

Parthenocarpic fruits are very important because these are seedless fruits. Seeds are irritants during the eating of the fruits. The processing of fruits by the food industry requires the removal of seed, which is quite difficult. Therefore, seedless fruits are preferred by the food industries.

Apomixis has an important role in hybrid seed production. Hybrid seeds have to be produced every year because seeds collected from hybrid plants if sown subsequently, do not maintain the hybrid character due to the segregation of traits during meiosis. This can be avoided by introducing apomixis in hybrid seed production. As there is no meiosis and syngamy, the parental characters are maintained in the progeny.

Are parthenocarpy and apomixis different phenomena? Discuss their benefits.

Important Questions on Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants

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