Polyembryony in Plants

Polyembryony is a phenomenon that occurs in certain plants where multiple embryos develop from a single fertilized egg cell. This process is different from normal embryonic development, where a single embryo develops from a single fertilized egg cell.

Examples of Polyembryony

Polyembryony is found in a number of plant species, including citrus fruits, mangoes, and avocados. In citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits, polyembryony is common and is often used in the propagation of citrus trees.

Mechanism of Polyembryony

Polyembryony occurs when the fertilized egg cell splits into multiple cells, each of which develops into a separate embryo. This is different from normal embryonic development, where the fertilized egg cell divides repeatedly to form a single embryo. In some cases, polyembryony can result in identical embryos, while in other cases, the embryos may be genetically different from each other.

Advantages of Polyembryony

Polyembryony can have several advantages in plants. For example, it can increase the likelihood of successful reproduction by producing multiple offspring from a single fertilized egg cell. In addition, it can provide a means of clonal reproduction, where multiple identical plants can be produced from a single parent plant.

Conclusion

In conclusion, polyembryony is a phenomenon that occurs in certain plants, where multiple embryos develop from a single fertilized egg cell. This process is different from normal embryonic development and can have several advantages in plants. Polyembryony is found in a number of plant species and is often used in the propagation of citrus trees.

Polyembryony is present in citrus, mango, Orange etc. because in these species each ovule contain many embryos.