Principles of Plant Breeding (2+1)

Detection of apomixes

• Positive evidence for the presence or absence of apomixis can be obtained only from an intensive screening of a large number of plants in a variety/hybrid. The screening involves a careful and systematic tracing of steps for the development of embryo-sac and embryo, through microtomy of ovule, right from megaspores to embryonic development. as such, therefore, it is a most tedious job requiring a lot of patience and persistence indeed.
• It should however be noted that it is only recurrent apomixis, namely diploidforms of apospory / parthenogenesis / apogamy / adventive embryony and vegetative propagation which are beneficial for plant breeding purposes. The simple reason being that it is these which produce viable diploid embryos without fertilization and thus can continue to perpetuate over generations.Nonrecurrentapomixis are of academic use only.