Apomixis is a naturally occurring reproduction mode in flowering plants that
results in embryo formation in absence of both meiosis and eggcell fertilization.
Apomixis results from the combination of two processes: apomeiosis (unreduced
embryosac formation due to diplospory or apospory) and parthenogenesis (development
of an embryo without fertilization). Seed-derived progenies of an apomictic plant
are genetically identical to the maternal parent, i.e., they are clonal in origin. The
impact on agriculture of the introgression of apomixis into sexual crops, will be
revolutionary. In fact, apomixis will allow clonal seed production and thus enable
efficient and consistent yields of high quality seeds, fruits and vegetables at lower
costs. The development of apomixis technology will reduce cost and breeding time also
avoiding the complications typical of sexual reproduction (e.g., incompatibility
barriers) and vegetative propagation (e.g., viral transfer). Progresses in the search for
apomixis genes obtained by several groups could allow the manipulation of apomixis
and its transfer to crop species where the apomixis system is not present and to
revolutionize modern agriculture. Moreover, when coupled with male-sterility systems,
apomictic reproduction (with no need for male contribution) could help in addressing
issues related to transgene escape from GM crops to organic or conventional crops, and
thereby allow for better coexistence systems.
Keywords: Apomeiosis, Apomixis, Asexual reproduction, Fertilization, Hybrid
vigor, Inbreeding depression, Meiosis, Parthenogenesis, Plant reproduction,
Sexual reproduction.