Question

Give an account of polyembryony.

Answer 1

Polyembryony:

1. Polyembryony is the occurrence of more than one embryo in a seed which consequently results in the emergence of multiple seedlings.
2. The additional embryos result from the differentiation and development of various maternal and zygotic tissues associated with the ovule of the seed.
3. In adventive polyembryony, an embryo develops directly from the diploid cell of nucellus and integuments as in Citrus.
4. In cleavage polyembryony, zygote proembryo sometimes divides (cleaves) into many parts or units. Each unit then develops into an embryo.