Principles of Plant Breeding

Uses of apomixis in plant breeding

1. Rapid multiplication of genetically uniform individuals can be achieved without risk of segregation.
2. Heterosis or hybrid vigour can permanently be fixed in crop plants, thus no problemfor recurring seed production of F1 hybrids.
3. Efficient exploitation of maternal effect, if present, is possible from generation to generation.
4. Homozygous inbred lines, as in corn, can be rapidly developed as they produce sectors of diploid tissues and occasional fertile gametes and seeds.